NAVSA is dedicated to advancing the field of Victorian studies through open, critically engaged, and challenging discussions at our annual conference, and it seeks to promote an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community. NAVSA is therefore committed to providing a safe, respectful, and harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, physical appearance, body size, age, professional status, religion, or any other characteristic. We value your presence and constructive participation in our shared community, and thank you for your attention to the comfort, safety, and well-being of fellow NAVSA collaborators and attendees at NAVSA events. Members should be aware that they are bound by the codes of conduct in effect at their home institutions. The NAVSA code does not supersede these workplace codes but is intended to reinforce their message.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to
• discriminatory verbal comments
• deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• inappropriate and/or unsolicited physical contact
• unwelcome sexual attention
• sustained disruption of talks or other events
• harassing or intrusive photography or recording without permission. (Attendees may take photographs or make recordings as long as it does not violate others’ expressed wishes. We encourage you to ask permission.)
• advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
As a voluntary professional organization, NAVSA has a limited range of formal responses to charges of Code of Conduct violations. However, within these constraints, NAVSA is committed to responding ethically and professionally to all reports of Code of Conduct violations. Repercussions may range from verbal warnings to contacting the authorities to take appropriate action.
Protocol in Cases of Code of Conduct Violations
If you have been a victim or witness of harassment, please first ensure your own safety and that of others. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact the president or vice-president of NAVSA: Kate Flint, flint.kate@gmail.com; Cannon Schmitt, cannon.schmitt@utoronto.ca. Executive members do not have the authority to act in any official capacity but will assist as much as possible and help to determine next action steps.
If you have been a victim or witness of abuse at a conference, contact hotel security.
To Make a Report for NAVSA’s Records
If you wish to make an unofficial report for NAVSA’s long-term record, contact the NAVSA president or vice-president: Kate Flint, flint.kate@gmail.com; Cannon Schmitt, cannon.schmitt@utoronto.ca. You may keep the report anonymous. It will be stored in a file maintained by the president and future presidents.
Protocol for NAVSA Executive Members and Conference Organizers
Unless you have been trained as a Title IX advocate or investigator and are eligible to offer services in the state hosting the conference, you do not have the requisite training or authority to act in any official capacity. If you are contacted, you can assist the individual in the ways described above.