Anti-Harassment Policy

Harassment may include such actions as: (1) inappropriate physical contact; (2) inappropriate jokes or verbal kidding or teasing that is either reflective of repetitive behavior and/or falls under the discrimination policy as stated above; (3) verbal abuse and epithets; (4) degrading comments; (5) the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures without consent (excluding artwork and/or artifacts from antiquity); (6) conduct or comments of a lewd or lascivious nature, including subtle pressure for sexual activity; (7) repeated offensive sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions; and (8) any other conduct that the individual (or group of individuals) might reasonably find to be intimidating, hostile, offensive, coercive, or threatening. Individuals against whom sanctions have been made, related to this policy, by other institutions (for example at their home institution or by another professional organization) may be restricted in their participation at ARCE-MO events, including but not limited to withdrawing an invitation to lecture (with honorarium thus withheld) or prohibiting attendance at events. 

Reporting

If an individual, or group of individuals, believe that they have experienced a violation of this anti-discrimination and  anti-harassment policy at an ARCE-MO event or meeting, the person or group is encouraged to report the incident immediately to any member of the ARCE-MO Board and/or the police if a criminal matter. Any member of the ARCE-MO Board (officers and trustees) is able to receive a complaint. The Board member is responsible for explaining the policies in place and discussing possible courses of action, including filing and non-filing of a formal complaint. If a formal complaint is filed, it is the Board member’s duty to bring the matter to the attention of the Board and initiate an official investigation into the matter in a reasonable amount of time (usually within 1 month, or by the next scheduled meeting of the Board, whichever is first). 

A formal complaint should be written, signed and dated by the individual making the complaint (an email with the individual’s full name clearly marked, counts as both a dated and signed written document). This formal complaint document must outline the incident and cannot be kept confidential. This document will be shared with the Board and with any implicated ARCE members. The implicated person(s) will have the opportunity to provide a written response to the complaint within 60 days. The Board shall not make final decisions about the investigation until after this 60 day period has passed, or a written response is received (again here an email is acceptable if full name is typed out as signature). During these 60 days, during an open investigation, it is the right of the Board to issue temporary sanctions, including prohibiting involved parties at meetings or events and/or requiring distancing. If both parties are amenable, a member of the Board should try to find a mutually acceptable resolution. If no resolution can be found, the Board shall, to their abilities and with reasonable investigation, determine whether the incident constituted discrimination and/or harassment under the terms of this Policy. A decision requires ⅔ vote of the Board. If the Board determines the incident constituted discrimination or harassment, it shall furnish a report of the incident, the findings of the investigation, and any imposed sanctions. This report shall be made available to the initial individual(s) reporting the complaint, to any implicated parties, and an official record shall be kept by ARCE-MO Secretary and by the Board member to whom the initial complaint was made (if this is one and the same person, the President shall also hold onto a copy of the report). 

Sanctions

The Board shall consider the case. A ⅔ vote of the Board is required for any decision. A written reprimand including any sanctions banning the individual from future meetings and/or revoking the individual’s membership will be communicated to the involved parties through physical mail, text, and/or electronic mail. Possible sanctions may include a written warning, suspension for a set time from events, a ban from meetings and/or events, and/or the revoking of membership at ARCE-MO and, potentially, from ARCE National upon their consultation.