Urban Wizards Social Club’s Anti-Harassment & Anti-Bullying Policy
Any event presented by Urban Wizards Social Club Inc. (UWSC), is dedicated to a harassment-free experience for all attendees regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body type, race, color, religion, political affiliation, veteran’s status, house affiliation, or even your favorite character ship or wizard rock band.
Our events are created to further our fandoms, and we expect staff, attendees, invited guests, and any other participants to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, as would be judged by a reasonable person. The focus of any event should be our respective fandom. We expect an environment of mutual respect and cooperation among attendees and staff. Harming or threatening to harm other attendees or staff is strictly prohibited. Violation of any portion of this policy is subject to possible expulsion from these events, or complete denial of access to the event at the sole discretion of the event organizers. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. We are each responsible for our actions in person, in writing, or online.
We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Anyone who violates these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund, at the sole discretion of the event organizers. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Offensive verbal comments regarding topics including, but not limited to age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, color, religion, political affiliation, veteran’s status, house affiliation, favorite character ships, favorite wizard rock bands, etc.
- Unwelcome or unwanted advances, including sexual advances, or demands for sexual favors.
- Physical assault and/or battery.
- Verbal abuse or kidding that is oriented toward a prohibited form of harassment or discrimination, including that which is sex-oriented and considered unwelcome.
- Creating an environment that is intimidating, hostile, abusive, or offensive because of unwelcome or unwanted conversations, suggestions, requests, demands, physical contact, or attentions, whether sexually-oriented or otherwise.
- Deliberate intimidation; stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; cyber-bullying or cyber-stalking; and unwelcome sexual attention.
Bullying is repeated inappropriate behavior that is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, whether verbal, physical, or otherwise. Bullying may be intentional or unintentional. The intention of the alleged bully is irrelevant, and will not be given consideration.
Bullying and intimidation can be in person or in online forums and communities. As with sexual harassment, it is the effect of the behavior on the individual that is important. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Verbal bullying: slandering, ridiculing, or maligning a person or their family, persistent name-calling that is hurtful, insulting, or humiliating, using a person as a butt of jokes, abusive or offensive remarks.
- Physical bullying: pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, tripping, assault or threat of physical assault, damage to a person or their property.
- Gesture bullying: nonverbal threatening gestures, glances that can convey threats.
- Exclusion: Socially or physically excluding or disregarding a person.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please report it to one of the event organizers. If they are not immediately available, please find a member of senior staff, and ask them to contact one of the organizers. In most cases, Senior Staff can be identified by badges and two-way radios. If you feel comfortable, you may first address the situation directly and immediately to the harasser, and then report it to Senior Staff.
Volunteers and event staff will be located in various areas around the event. When in doubt, the volunteers will always be able to contact a member of Senior Staff for you. Senior Staff will then come to where you are.
How to Report Conduct Policy Violations
We all have a responsibility to report actions that might be inappropriate. The organization cannot investigate without the proper information. If we don’t know or lack sufficient information, we cannot take appropriate action. Any content on any of our social media platforms that violate this policy will be removed. We have the exclusive right to determine what content is on our sites and will respond accordingly, at our sole discretion. We are not responsible for content outside of our platforms. However, we encourage each person to monitor their own platforms and report any content they feel is inappropriate to the appropriate organizations.
If you feel you have been threatened, or you feel endangered, your first course of action is to report it to the appropriate law enforcement agency. We ask that you please provide us with a copy of the report.
The very nature of harassment and bullying makes it difficult to detect unless the person that is the subject of said actions reports it to the appropriate parties.
Please report as soon as an incident happens, so we can get clear details. If possible, we will need a name and/or physical description, to help us initiate an investigation. We realize this is a stressful time, and we will walk you through the process. If there are witnesses, please ask if they can stay in the area, so we can take their statements as well.
At the event, event staff will be happy to help participants contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event.
We value your attendance. We expect participants to follow these rules at all venues and related social events. We are not responsible for resolving personal conflicts or interpersonal problems of individuals outside of the convention.
If you wish to contact us electronically, we can be reached at security@urbanwizardssocialclub.org
Safe Space Doctrine
All Urban Wizards Social Club, Inc. events will be an official “Safe Space”, free from bullying and intolerance. A Safe Space is defined as a place where anyone is able to engage in relaxed self-expression without fear due to their identity or expression. This means that all efforts will be made to ensure that the environment is one in which our attendees may participate without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability. UWSC puts a high value on having rules that guard each person’s self-respect and dignity and we encourage all of our guests to treat each other with respect at all times. In addition to being a Safe Space, UWSC is an ardent supporter of the Anti-Bullying initiative, a commitment to being a place that is free of hate speech, judgment, and intolerance.
Our Safe Space policy was derived with permission from Shuto Con (Shuto Con is now defunct).
Photography Policy
The event organizers and other participants may take photographs during the event. By registering for this event you give consent for the organizers and sponsors to publish these photos in printed materials or on the Internet without additional notice or compensation. Individuals will not be identified/named in any photo unless prior written consent has been obtained from those individuals. UWSC maintains absolute ownership of any photographs and photos will be posted at our sole discretion.
While there is no expectation of privacy at this event. If someone is the featured subject matter of your photograph, UWSC encourages attendees to ask permission prior to taking the photograph. If the subject does not wish to have their photo taken, then do not take it. Harassing photography or videography, in any form, will not be tolerated. Unless otherwise noted, photo-taking is allowed during programming and special events, but only from your seat. It is not permitted to approach the front of the stage/room and block the view of others. UWSC requests that attendees be conscious of their neighbors while attempting to photograph or record during events. When stopping to take photographs in the hallways, or other traffic flow areas, please be considerate of your fellow attendees by being brief and not blocking traffic.
In purchasing registration and/or in consideration for being admitted to our events, each attendee consents to being recorded (by audio, visual, and/or other means) for the usage described above.
General Disclaimer
The Attendee also hereby:
(a) releases UWSC from any liability for loss or damage to persons or property, infringement of any right, or any other claim or course of action of any kind; and
(b) agrees to comply with all rules and regulations of the event. UWSC reserves the right to deny entry or remove from the event facilities, any person who, in our sole and absolute discretion, is behaving, or threatening to behave, in a manner that UWSC reasonably considers to be disruptive of the event.
Performance and Presentation Policy
All rights regarding special events and theatrical performances are reserved in full by UWSC. All rights, content, and materials used during presentations are reserved by the presenters. Presenters and artists have been instructed to inform the audience of any special restrictions before the session begins.
Please note – audio recording, video recording, or photography of presenters or materials during a presentation may only be done with the presenter’s permission.
Content of all performances, presentations, and events is subject to approval by UWSC staff. Any content that is in violation of UWSC policy will not be approved. If a presentation/performance includes such content then UWSC maintains the right to take any necessary action. Any event or presentation with mature or adult content must be cleared by UWSC and clearly labeled as such.