Anti-Harassment Policy

RNATx is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. [Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks.] Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the symposium [without a refund] at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion
• Sexual images in public spaces
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following 
• Harassing photography or recording
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Inappropriate physical contact (for in-person symposia)
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Exhibitors, sponsors, or similar activities are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. 

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the conference [with no refund].

Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.

We expect participants to follow these rules at all event-related activities. We think people should follow these rules outside event activities too!

Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Harassment and other code of conduct violations reduce the value of our event for everyone. We want you to be happy at our event. People like you make our event a better place.

You can make a report either personally or anonymously:

Anonymous Report
You can make an anonymous report here: https://bit.ly/30BttVz

We can't follow up an anonymous report with you directly, but we will fully investigate it and take whatever action is necessary to prevent a recurrence.

Personal Report
You can make a personal report by:

• Contacting a staff member via email or chat during the symposium.
• When taking a personal report, our staff will ensure you are safe. They may involve other event staff to ensure your report is managed properly. Once safe, we'll ask you to tell us about what happened. This can be upsetting, but we'll handle it as respectfully as possible, and you can bring someone to support you. You won't be asked to confront anyone and we won't tell anyone who you are.
• Email contacts: Stacey O'Neil Stacey.ONeil@UMassMed.edu,
  Angela Messmer-Blust Angela.MessmerBlust@UMassMed.edu, or RNATherapeutics@UMassMed.edu