SPIEL 2025 Anti-Harrassment, Anti-Disruption Policy
The Southeastern Public Interest Environmental Law (SPIEL) Conference and the University of the South are committed to providing a safe, harassment-free, hospitable and productive meeting environment for everyone attending our events, programs and meetings, regardless of race, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, religion or belief. This policy refers to anyone present at any SPIEL programs, meetings or other sponsored events, including staff, contractors, vendors, exhibitors, venue staff, and all other participants.
All participants at SPIEL meetings, events or programs are expected to abide by the SPIEL Anti-Harassment Policy in all meeting venues, including ancillary events and official and unofficial social gatherings. Compliance with this policy includes the following:
Abiding by the norms of professional respect that are necessary to promote the conditions for free academic interchange
Agreement to alert relevant SPIEL staff or security personnel if a situation arises where someone might be in imminent danger
Agreement to abide by the rules and regulations of the University of the South
Agreement to refrain from advocating for unlawful and/or violent tactics, or tactics that involve property destruction
All in-person or virtual participants of a SPIEL event, program or meeting, must agree to abide by the SPIEL Anti-Harassment Policy and avoid the following behaviors:
Threats or actions that cause or threaten personal harm
Threats or actions that cause or threaten professional harm, punishment or retaliation
Intimidating, harassing, abusive, derogatory or demeaning speech or actions
Prejudicial actions or comments that coerce others, foment broad hostility or otherwise undermine professional equity or the principles of free academic exchange
Unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical intimacy
Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following
Harassing photography or recording
Sustained, unprofessional disruption of talks or other events
Advocacy for unlawful and/or violent tactics, or tactics that involve property destruction
Other intentionally disruptive behavior
Participants also understand that the above list is not exhaustive and SPIEL and the University of the South, in their sole discretion, may hold me accountable for other behaviors in violation of this Policy. Zero tolerance will be exercised in dealing with any incidents that are found to have violated this policy. Anyone found to have violated this policy will be immediately escorted off of campus and will be informed that they are not welcome to return to SPIEL or Sewanee in the future.
Disclosure of Previous Violations
As a term of attendance, all attendees must disclose any previous actions that would have violated this Policy and about which a complaint was made. During registration for any event, program or meeting, you will be asked to please list any instances of professional conduct violations in the preceding three (3) years.
Acknowledgement
During registration for any event, you will be asked to acknowledge and agree that you have had an opportunity to review the SPIEL Anti-Harassment Policy referenced herein and this Policy. You will be asked to further agree that SPIEL, in its sole discretion and in addition to other penalties, may remove you from the event and bar your future attendance at other SPIEL events, programs or meetings for violation of this Policy. You will be asked to agree that the Disclosure referenced above is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.