Meeting Conduct Policy

LSA Code of Conduct for Events

The LSA annual meetings, Linguistic Institutes, and other LSA-sponsored events are convened for the purposes of professional, scholarly and educational interchange and development in the spirit of free inquiry and free expression. Consequently, all forms of uncollegiality and harassment are considered by the LSA to be serious forms of professional misconduct.

This Code of Conduct is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all its participants. It describes expected behavior and outlines ways in which event organizers will address problems that arise. It reminds LSA participants (including conference reviewers) that a high level of professional ethics and norms is expected as standards of behavior and interaction at these events, standards which include but are not limited to those outlined below.

The LSA, like many professional scholarly organizations, requires participants to agree to a Code of Conduct to ensure we are able to offer inclusive and welcoming environments. Members of the LSA have reported issues such as those covered by this Code of Conduct for several decades. Therefore, this policy is intended to be responsive to those complaints and address similar issues that may arise at future LSA events.

Unprofessional behavior

All participants in LSA events must maintain professional integrity in their relationships and interactions with one another. Harassment and discrimination are specifically prohibited. “Participant” in this policy refers to anyone attending the event (in in-person, hybrid, or online iterations) or present at the event, including staff, contractors, and vendors.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

Prejudicial actions or communication (actions or language) related to a person’s identity or group membership that coerce others, foment broad hostility, or otherwise undermine professional equity or the principles of free academic exchange. Relevant identities include (but are not limited to) those defined by age, career or employment status, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
• Harassing photography or recording.
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
• Inappropriate physical contact.
• Unwelcome sexual attention.
• Advocating for, encouraging, or condoning any of the above behavior.

The expression or the critique of a contested academic or professional viewpoint does not in itself constitute harassment, as long as it is done in a professional and respectful way. By contrast, aggressive discussion styles (including ad hominem comments) that are aimed to intimidate, marginalize, belittle, or disparage others (or their research area) are unacceptable.

Inclusive Behavior

LSA events aim to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all participants. Every participant is welcome and respected. By the same token, all participants are expected to treat each other with respect and tolerance. To accomplish this, participants are asked to speak up and take action when these values are not adhered to, and recognize that power differences and hierarchies inherent to academia and broader society may inhibit some participants (including students and junior scholars) from deciding to object to or report problematic behavior (details on reporting below). In addition, linguists working in non-academic (industry, government, professional or community) settings may feel that they are treated as second-class citizens. Inclusion means treating all participants with respect, as equally valuable contributors to the field.

The LSA encourages its event participants to proactively engage in inclusive behavior, e.g.:

• Acknowledge the opinions, skills, and contributions of others.
• Discuss any sensitive material in a respectful way where the material is adequately contextualized in line with academic inquiry and professional practice.
• Give feedback to others in a professional and respectful manner.
• Refrain from disruptive or monopolizing behavior, especially during talks and question periods.
• Advocate for others when they are unable to advocate for themselves, or in instances of prejudice or discrimination, without taking over or deciding what is best for others.
• Provide encouragement, help, support, or mentorship to colleagues when it is welcomed.

Reporting

Harassment and other violations of this code reduce the value of our events for everyone. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please report it to the event organizers as soon as possible.
 
You can report a violation:

• in person to an organizer;
• in an email to the LSA Executive Director,
• or in an anonymous form.

LSA event organizers will do their best to address your report with as much confidentiality as the enforcement process allows. Depending on the nature of the violation, in some jurisdictions organizers may also be required by law and/or university policy to inform authorities. For example, some U.S. universities require faculty to report all instances of sexual harassment to university officials regardless of whether the target consents to the reporting.

Enforcement

LSA event organizers are committed to taking appropriate actions to prevent and/or stop any behavior designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.

Participants who are reasonably and politely asked to comply with this code should do so immediately. Failure to do so could result in the filing of a violation report (see above).

If a participant has a report filed against them, the event organizers will review the report and may contact the participant so they can consider their version of the incident. The organizers may also consult with the person who filed the report or other people involved in or with knowledge of the incident. 

The organizers will decide, as quickly as possible, the extent to which the behavior reported constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct or a violation of the law. If the target consents, the organizers may choose to respond to the behavior reported. Possible responses include:

• no response (if the behavior is found to not constitute a violation);
• a warning to the participant that their behavior constitutes a minor violation, but that continued behavior would constitute a major violation; and
• expulsion from the event and a report of the incident to the following year’s organizers (if the behavior is found to constitute a major violation)
• behavior that may constitute a violation of the law will be reported to law enforcement

Severability

If any part of this Code of Conduct is in conflict with the applicable law in the jurisdiction of the conference, this shall not affect the validity of any other part.

Ombuds

The LSA provides an ombuds service for its members for confidential consultation, either before or after filing a complaint regarding conduct at an LSA event, to address any concerns and to assist with problem-solving. For more information, please contact the LSA Executive Director at mvitullo@lsadc.org.

Adopted by the LSA Executive Committee, September 10, 2023. This policy is based upon the prior work of the Committee on Gender Equity in Linguistics (COGEL) and the committee's Resources on Equity and Inclusivity in Linguistics (REIL).

LSA Liability Waiver

By registering for the Annual Meeting, I freely and voluntarily agree and acknowledge that I am undertaking participation in LSA events and activities as my own free and intentional act and I am fully aware that possible physical injury, exposure or infection with COVID-19 (or its variants) might occur to me as a result of my actions or those of other attendees or participants including the Venue’s employees and LSA’s officers, directors, employees, or agents. I do hereby assume responsibility for my own well-being. I also agree not to allow any other individual to participate in my place. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the CDC, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

I hereby release, for myself, my heirs, and personal representatives, and do forever discharge, indemnify and hold harmless LSA, its directors, officers, staff, agents, members, and representatives, from any and all claims, liabilities, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of, in connection with, or relating to my attending or participating in the Annual Meeting including, without limitation, any illness, damages, or injury resulting from my travel to and from, and attendance at, the Annual Meeting, participation in events related to the Annual Meeting, exposure to an infectious disease (including COVID-19) or the manner in which the Annual Meeting or its related events and activities are conducted (collectively, “Claims”). I understand and agree that this Waiver includes any Claims based on the actions, errors, omissions, or negligence of LSA, its directors, officers, staff, agents, members, and representatives.

I further agree to abide by all laws, rules, regulations, and standards in effect during the meeting, including any safety requirements imposed by the Event Venue and LSA that may be deemed necessary to protect public health and safety (collectively, “Guidance”). I understand that the Guidance may continue to evolve over time. By registering, I attest that I have read this waiver, understand that I am waiving important rights, and agree to abide by its requirements.
 

LSA Recording & Social Media Use

During the LSA Annual Meeting, LSA itself, or through its contractors, may take photographs and background roll video footage that may capture images of you as you attend or present at event sessions. As LSA must obtain permission from the subjects of any photographs or footage that LSA might display publicly, this agreement provides LSA with permission to publicly display your image as captured during the event (this permission is generally irrevocable except if you would like to request LSA to refrain from using your image from promotional materials). LSA will be able to use these photographs and footage for all purposes and in any format (e.g., print, online, etc.) to further its mission.

You retain all rights to your voice and likeness. You will just be providing LSA permission to use your voice and likeness as captured in images and footage taken by LSA or its contractors.

Recording and Social Media Use

The Linguistic Society of America (“LSA”), through itself or its contractors, may photograph, broadcast and/or record all or portions of the events and functions at the Annual Meeting, including through audio and video recording, web streaming and photography, for the production of material distributed for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to educational, archival, commercial or promotional purposes (collectively known as the “Material”). By registering for the Annual Meeting, you irrevocably grant the LSA, its assignees and licensees permission to capture your image, likeness, name, biographical information, actions, performance, voice, conversations, quotes and material spoken (collectively, “Likeness”) through photography, video, or any other means, and publish, exhibit, display, reproduce, translate, modify, edit or otherwise use perpetually throughout the world, in all media now and hereafter known or devised, in whole or in part, your Likeness as captured in the Material. If you would like to decline permission for LSA to use your Likeness in the Material that is distributed for promotional purposes, you can request, in writing to meetings@lsadc.org, to be excluded and LSA will make a good faith effort to remove you from any of the Material that is published or otherwise publicly shared for promotional purposes.
 
You should be aware that recording by attendees during open sessions is a possibility as well as posting material discussing or relating to the Annual Meeting on social media. LSA requests that all attendees respect their colleagues and behave responsibly when engaging in recording and social media activities. LSA does not take responsibility for the manner in which attendees use privately recorded material. As a general rule, Annual Meeting sessions also are open to the press, who may report on discussions, quote participants and publish other information made available during the session.