Transparency Report: Reported 2023 Code of Conduct Violations

Chasing Wonder formed an independent Code of Conduct Committee for the inaugural year to handle any potential code of conduct violations. The Committee is important to try to make Chasing Wonder a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants.

Background

Chasing Wonder is committed to providing a welcoming and harassment-free environment for participants of all races, gender and trans statuses, sexual orientations, physical abilities, physical appearances, and beliefs. This code of conduct was written not because we expect bad behavior from our community—which, in our experience, is overwhelmingly kind and civil—but because we believe a clear code of conduct is one necessary part of building a respectful community space.

Chasing Wonder participants agreed to:

Be considerate in speech and actions, and actively seek to acknowledge and respect the boundaries of fellow attendees.
Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: deliberate intimidation; stalking; unwanted photography or recording; sustained or willful disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; use of sexual or discriminatory imagery, comments, or jokes; and unwelcome sexual attention. If you feel that someone has harassed you or otherwise treated you inappropriately, please alert any member of the Code of Conduct team in person, via the team phone/text line, or via email.
Take care of each other. Alert a member of the Code of Conduct team if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this code of conduct, even if they seem inconsequential.
 
If any attendee engages in harassing behavior, the Code of Conduct Committee may take any lawful action we deem appropriate, including but not limited to warning the offender or asking the offender to leave the conference. (If you feel you have been unfairly accused of violating this code of conduct, you should contact the conference team with a concise description of your grievance; any grievances filed will be considered by the entire Chasing Wonder team.)

Visibility / Accessibility of Committee:

In addition to the 2023 Chasing Wonder Code of Conduct Chair and Committee being introduced in person at the plenary session, the Committee implemented a Google Voice hotline, Google email, and Signal text number to be used by attendees during the event, making reaching a Committee member easy for anyone who wished to do so, at any time.

2023 Reports

We were thankful to not encounter any incidents this year.

One member requested that they thought there would be a land acknowledgement in the opening plenary, but was insistent that they consider this to be a “request,” and not a “report of misconduct.” The request was passed on to the event organizers, and a land acknowledgement was done at the closing plenary.