Rules of Conduct

These guidelines are established to ensure that all conference participants have a safe, enjoyable experience at the national college conferences. They apply to any online platform, on-site events, and all participants including students, advisers, staff, speakers, volunteers, vendors, suppliers, exhibitors, service providers, guests, and others. We are committed to ensuring that our events and gatherings are an inclusive, respectful, productive, and harassment-free experience for everyone regardless of actual or perceived gender, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, background, religion or political affiliation, and other forms of diversity and identity as this definition continues to evolve.

Expectations

• Know and follow all of the rules of your environment. Consequences of your environment will prevail such as the city and venue’s rules and regulations.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Dress and behave professionally as this is an official education and development event.
• Respect persons and property.
• Participate mindfully in your learning and development. 

Unacceptable Behavior

Inappropriate behavior can take many forms, so this is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Examples of unacceptable behavior which is not tolerated include (but not limited to):

• Demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior or speech, including but not limited to personal insults, sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist or ableist language or any language that insults or demeans the characteristics of a person protected under U.S. federal, state or local law.
• Inappropriate physical contact; you should have someone’s consent before touching them.
• Language that implies exclusion or derogation of a person on the basis of the person’s immutable characteristic; for example, asking a participant where they are “really from”; assuming a person’s spouse or partner is of the opposite gender; deliberately using the wrong pronoun to refer to an individual.
• Unwelcome sexual attention, including sexualized comments or jokes, inappropriate touching, groping, or sexual advances.
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following.
• Sustained disruption, including during talks and presentations.
• Displaying sexually explicit or violent material including in presented materials (e.g. slides, presentations, talks) or in informal settings or on personal devices (e.g. on your phone).
• Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person or group.
• Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials such as explosives, firearms, weapons or similar items.
• Bullying including repeated verbal abuse; verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating or humiliating nature; or the sabotage or undermining of a person’s performance.
• Theft or inappropriate removal or possession of property.
• Use, distribution, sale, or transfer of illegal drugs/alcohol/vaping/smoking. Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages, vaping or possession/use of illegal drugs is absolutely prohibited.
• Any other illegal activity or forms of harassment not covered above.
• Harassment, aggression, intimidation; slurs; jokes; derogatory statements; foul or obscene language; offensive clothing; nudity; leering; stalking; staring; gestures; pictures, drawings or cartoons; violating personal space by impeding or blocking another person’s movement or otherwise physically interfering with them; harassing photography or recordings; unwanted or offensive letters or poems; offensive email or voicemail messages; social media postings; or violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed or against another person.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

Rudeness to the venues’ guests (e.g. hotel guests and hotel/convention center employees); misuse of or reckless behavior on the elevators or escalators; excessive noise; destruction of property; or any other inappropriate behavior is not acceptable and can lead to expulsion from the venue property and/or criminal prosecution. Should individual students, advisers or delegations prove disruptive, ACP officials reserve the right to declare all fees forfeited, and to send delegates home at their own expense.

Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated, so if you are asked to stop inappropriate behavior, you should comply immediately. If you see or are the target of inappropriate behavior or language, please email info@studentpress.org, and we will take appropriate action to ensure the event maintains a safe and constructive environment. Please include your name, what behavior you witnessed, who was involved (school or company name, individuals if known, etc.) and where/when the conduct took place.

The consequences of such behavior may include but not limited to the following:

• Appropriate authorities may be notified.
• Attendees will be immediately removed from the event with no refund.
• Inappropriate content will be removed.
• Access to future events will be limited/denied.

Breaking conference rules may result in disqualification from all contests and any registration/entry fees will be forfeited.

Badges

• Everyone is expected to wear their conference name badges at all times while in the conference space. When outside, it is recommended you remove your name badges,  travel in groups or pairs and let someone know where you are at all times.

Photography/Videography

• Participants give permission for photographs and/or video to be taken during the activities at the conference. These images and video will remain the property of ACP and may be used in publications and marketing campaigns for future conventions with or without the names of those pictured.
• Out of respect to instructors and the intellectual property of their sessions, please do not record presentations without first obtaining permission from the speaker/s to do so.

Safety and Security 

• The municipality’s laws and consequences prevail. If you experience an emergency, you should dial the emergency number such as 911. Please know your company or school’s policy, emergency protocols as well as the local hospital locations. Within convention space, please be aware of the exits and follow directions.
• In-house security (e.g. for noise, stolen property, urgent needs, etc.) can be reached by contacting the hotels’ or convention centers’ front desk.