Harassment and Bullying Policies
Harassment and BullyingSCA Policy on Harassment and Bullying Revised 7/24/2022
1. The SCA prohibits bullying and harassment of all individual and groups. 2. Bullying is ongoing and unwelcome behavior which involves the use of influence, threat, intimidation, or coercion to cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people. When the bullying behavior is based on a protected class, that behavior is defined as harassment. Protected classes include race, sex, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. 3. The test for bullying is both the reasonableness of the behavior and the impact of that behavior on the recipient. 4. Bullying and harassment may be overt, as in the following non-inclusive list of examples: a. Verbal abuse, including using racial, homophobic, transphobic, ableist epithets, etc. b. Non-consensual physical contact, threats of violence, or threatening gestures c. Displaying material that is offensive, degrading, or threatening to a protected class d. Consistent demeaning remarks or malicious teasing e. Stalking or predatory behavior 5. It may also be covert, as in the following non-inclusive list of examples: a. Spreading rumors or innuendo with malicious intent. b. Deliberate exclusion, isolation, or alienation of an individual without just cause. c. Using rank, title, or office to intimidate others. 6. Provided that the behavior does not rise to the criteria listed above, bullying and harassment is not: a. Single episodes of social rejection, dislike, tactlessness, or forgetfulness b. Mutual arguments, disagreements, or fights c. The termination, mutual or not, of a romantic relationship or friendship d. Reasonable constructive feedback or critique e. Reasonable instructions or guidance issued by officers or agents of the SCA in the performance of their duties. 7. Participants engaging in bullying/harassment are subject to appropriate sanctions. If an individual believes they have been subjected to or have witnessed harassment, bullying, or retaliation, that person should contact a seneschal, the President of the SCA, or that kingdom’s Board Ombudsman. 8. The following statement must be posted at gate/troll at every SCA event in a size large enough for people to see it as they enter our events. This language must likewise be quoted in ALL site handouts at every event or site where a handout is made available. THE SCA PROHIBITS HARASSMENT AND BULLYING OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. Participants engaging in this behavior are subject to appropriate sanctions. If you are subjected to harassment, bullying or retaliation, or if you become aware of anyone being harassed or bullied, contact a seneschal, President of the SCA, or your Kingdom’s Board Ombudsman. |
Sexual MisconductExcerpted from Society Seneschal’s Handbook, April 2021
1. The SCA prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct including, but not limited to, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual violence. Such conduct violates SCA Core Values and puts the SCA and its participants at risk. In furtherance of this policy, the SCA highlights our Core Values as the code of conduct for participants in any of our activities. a. SCA Statement of Core Values In pursuing its mission, the SCA is committed to excellence in its programs, communications, and activities and to: • act in accordance with the chivalric virtues of honor and service in all interactions with SCA members and participants; • be a responsible steward of SCA resources; • deal fairly with others, and value and respect the worth and dignity of all individuals; • practice inclusiveness and respect diversity; • promote a safe and respectful environment for all SCA members and participants; • act with transparency, fairness, integrity and honesty; • maintain a harassment-free environment in SCA spaces; • avoid behavior that reflects adversely on the SCA or other SCA members and participants. It is the expectation of the SCA that its members and participants, in all events and activities of the SCA, will conduct themselves in accordance with these tenets. B. Definitions: 1. Consent means freely and affirmatively communicated willingness to participate in sexual activity, expressed by clear, unambiguous words. a. Consent is a clear, verbal, voluntary agreement given by someone able to agree to an act. b. Someone may lack the ability to consent, due, for example, to their age, intellectual or other disability, or incapacitation from the use of drugs or alcohol. c. We will always view as unwelcome and nonconsensual any sexual activity between an adult and any person below the legal age of consent. d. Additionally, because consent is a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity: • someone who is incapacitated cannot consent; • past consent does not imply future consent; • consent for one act does not imply consent for another; • silence or an absence of resistance does not imply consent; • consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not imply consent to engage in sexual activity with another; • consent can be withdrawn at any time during a sexual encounter; and • coercion, force, or threat of either invalidates consent. 2. Sexual Assault is an actual or attempted sexual contact with another person without that person's consent. Sexual assault includes, but is not limited to, acts that constitute sexual assault under state law. 3. Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive such that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives someone of the ability to participate in or benefit from the SCA events and activities. Sexual Harassment includes, but is not limited to, acts that constitute sexual harassment under state law. 4. Sexual Misconduct is any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is committed without consent and/or by force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation. Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, exposure of reproductive organs, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual violence. Sexual misconduct also includes, but is not limited to, acts that constitute sexual misconduct under state law. 5. Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking behavior can include: (i) persistent, unwanted communications to the victim by phone, email, and/or other social media; (ii) repeatedly sending the victim unwanted gifts; (iii) following or waiting for the victim at home, school, work, or elsewhere; and (iv) direct or indirect threat(s) by the stalker to harm herself or himself, the victim, or the victim’s friends and family, or to damage the victim’s property. Stalking includes, but is not limited to, acts that constitute stalking under state law. |
Hate SpeechSCA Corpora p. 37 (posted 2022)
1. While the Society is devoted to courtesy, trustworthiness, and personal responsibility, tensions and disputes do arise. 2. The Board is the final court of appeal for disputes that have escalated beyond the ability of the participants or the officers to handle. However, it is reluctant to play that role because its rulings affect the entire Society--often by restricting everyone’s freedom and reducing their enjoyment of the organization. Corpora provides a right of appeal to the Board, but members should make every effort to work out their disputes at as low a level in the organization as possible. 3. While it is not possible to prescribe a specific list of things to do or people to consult that will serve in all disputes, the general procedure outlined here should be adaptable to most of them. If you are directly involved in a dispute, you must go through a process at least as comprehensive as this one before asking the Board for help. If you are asked to intervene in someone else’s dispute because of the office or title you hold, please don’t rush in. First, urge the principals to try all measures recommended for attempting to reach a settlement without involving your level of the organization. Then, if you do intervene, make every effort to find a resolution the participants can accept, instead of escalating the dispute to higher levels of the organization. 4. Hate speech is not tolerated in the Society. Hate speech is speech or symbols that offend, threaten, or insult individuals or groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or other traits. Such symbols and speech have no essential part of any discussion of ideas and are of so little value to the Society that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the harm caused. The use by any participant in the Society may result in possible sanctions up to and including revocation of membership and denial of participation. Please report any possible instances of hate speech to your Kingdom Seneschal, the Society Seneschal or the President of the SCA immediately. For more information about hate speech and the reporting of same, please refer to the Society Seneschal’s Handbook |