Student Journal Symposium for Literary and Research Publications

Code of Conduct

The Student Journal Symposium for Literary and Research Publications (the “Symposium”) and the Graduate Program in Publishing, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University (“GW”), are dedicated to fostering an inclusive community, free of harassment, for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. This Code of Conduct (“Code”) presents the standards of ethical conduct applicable to all attendees, presenters and moderators, students, guests, and persons acting on the university’s behalf. 

Integrity and Respect

Both the Code and the GW Values emphasize the components of integrity and respect as they are central to the desired GW culture and environment. The Symposium, Graduate Program in Publishing, and the GW university community is diverse in visible and non-visible ways. GW is committed to equal access, free inquiry, free expression, and the vigorous discussion and debate on which the advancement of its educational mission depends.

The Symposium and Graduate Program in Publishing will not tolerate harassment of—or by—presenters, moderators, attendees, students, or other guests of the community in any form. Sexual or discriminatory language and imagery is not appropriate for any Publishing program event or venue, whether virtual or in person. Any persons violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled at the discretion of the Symposium organizers or the George Washington University.

Harassment includes offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion; sexual and or discriminatory images in physical or virtual public spaces; deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography, or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.

Recording and Social Media

All attendees, presenters, and other guests should be thoughtful and respectful with sharing on social media, blogs, and other venues. All sessions and presentations will be recorded by the Symposium organizers, unless announced in advance, and provided for the later viewing of Symposium registrants, Graduate Program in Publishing students, and others. Faces and names of attendees, other than presenters and moderators, will not form part of Symposium recordings; attendees submitting questions to presenters may have their question and names read aloud during the presentation and recording. Photographs and recording of sessions and presentations by attendees, without express permission, is not permitted.

We encourage dialogue and interaction through the Q&A to presenters, the Symposium chat, and via other media during the Symposium. The Symposium and Publishing program encourages participants to engage with social media to enrich their own experience and to engage with other attendees and with those who may not be able to attend.

By default, attendees may discuss presentations on social media and share quotes publicly. Presenters who do not wish to be quoted or have their presentations discussed on social media may say so at the beginning of the session or at any time during it; attendees and other participants are expected to honor presenters’ wishes in this area.

Attendees, presenters, students, and other guests, and those using event hashtags are expected to comply with applicable social media platform policies, including those on harassment and abuse. (For an example, see The Twitter Rules.) Violations of these policies will be reported via the appropriate channels.  

Reporting

Any individual who believes that they have been subjected to harassment should contact the MPS in Publishing Director, John W. Warren (jww@gwu.edu), or other College of Professional Studies Staff (cps@gwu.edu or 202-994-2083). Alternately, they may report a concern via the hotline maintained by GW’s Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Privacy. It is recommended that, in addition to notifying GW staff, they write down the details, as they may be asked to fill out a report. They are not expected to discuss the incident with the offending party. All complaints will be treated seriously and be investigated promptly. Confidentiality will be honored to the extent permitted as long as the rights of others are not compromised.

See also: Code of Ethical Conduct, George Washington University