As a now retired public librarian from a Midwestern fairly large urban library system, I have helped write Code of Conducts and have banned people from all the library facilities on my own authority for periods up to three months. Longer periods of banishment had to be determined by the library administration.
Centerfold has not wanted to write a Code of Conduct, feeling it was unnecessary in a smaller venue. Unfortunately, now that the issue has been brought up, it has become necessary. People are now aware of the lack of a CoC and feel unsafe, or at least unsettled, that there is not one. Perceptions are important, and this won’t go away. A CoC does not mean that the convention would suddenly become safe. Incidents occur. What a CoC does, however, is make victims feel that their complaints will be taken seriously and that there will not be any retaliation for reporting an incident — and that help can be obtained and problems will be solved and worked on. It protects organizers from being accused of ignoring potential problems or discriminating against an individual. It also serves to tell attendees that there will be consequences for unacceptable behavior. In reply to the email that was sent by Monica, I volunteered to help write a CoC for Centerfold and a form to take reports of incidents. I said the easiest route with only two months before the convention would be to adopt OUSA’s CoC for this convention, and I assumed an Ohio specific CoC could be written later, but I have since learned that Ohio does not want to use OUSA’s CoC. That is fine. There are many examples to choose from and other people can do that. What I can uniquely provide is a standard reporting form, and if desired, some quick remedial training in using unbiased language in filling out such forms. If this convention does end up being held, a better form more adapted to the convention can be developed later. I can also make suggestions as to varying levels of consequences, but others will be more qualified to do that than me. I hope this offer is taken seriously. Other people have also made offers to help and mediate, but it seems to have reached a point people are not capable of actually hearing what is being said. Carol Martinson Sent from my iPad
