Code of Conduct
You understand that Arkham Con is dedicated to providing a safe, enjoyable, and harassment-free Event experience for all participants and workers, and you hereby acknowledge that disruptive behavior, inappropriate and unlawful conduct, or harassment in any form will not be tolerated. You agree to conduct yourself, and any minors under your supervision, in accordance with Arkham Con’s Code of Conduct provided here. Our Code of Conduct is subject to change without notice.
First and foremost: be safe. Everyone should observe common sense rules for behavior, personal interaction, courtesy, and respect. This includes (but is not limited to):
- Follow all of Our policies, venue rules, and staff directions.
- No running, jumping, throwing, or other unsafe activities.
- Support each other in maintaining a safe environment.
- Report concerns to Arkham Con staff (at the registration desk if you are uncertain who staff are).
- Don’t harass other attendees or staff.
- Respect everyone’s physical, social boundaries, and their personal property. If you are ever uncertain about what these are, ask the Arkham Con staff (at the registration desk if you are uncertain who staff are).
- No stealing, cheating, trolling, or griefing.
- No illegal activities.
- Play nice and play respectfully.
- Have fun.
Anti-Harassment Policy
Harassment or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Arkham Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the ticket and participation of any participant not in compliance with the Code of Conduct.
Arkham Con is committed to providing a safe environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Harassment or unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, visual, or in any other form, is strictly prohibited. Arkham Con’s Code of Conduct applies to all persons involved in the operation or attendance of the convention or Arkham Con-sponsored Event. Arkham Con will not tolerate harassment of anyone by anyone, including participants, Arkham Con staff, or venue staff.
Arkham Con defines harassment as any behavior that threatens a person or group or produces an unsafe and non-inclusive environment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, offensive verbal comments or non-verbal expressions related to gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, age, or religious beliefs.
Furthermore, harassment includes, but is not limited to, discriminatory words or images, intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of Event activities, inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact, and inappropriate or unwelcome sexual attention. Harassment may take the form of comments, epithets, slurs, discriminatory or insensitive jokes, teasing, display or discussion of written or graphic material, repeatedly standing too close to or brushing up against a person, or giving gifts of an unwanted or sexual nature. Advocating or encouraging any of the above is also considered harassment.
Harassment at Arkham Con does not include respectful disagreement or critique offered in good faith. However, once an individual asserts they want such disagreement or critique to stop, continuing that behavior will be considered harassment.
Arkham Con reserves the right to alter or broaden its definition of harassment at its sole discretion.
Should you experience or witness harassment or other violations of the Code of Conduct, you may choose to take any of the following actions:
- If you feel safe and comfortable doing so, ask the offender to stop. Whether the offending behavior is intentional or unintentional, expressing your discomfort to the offender directly may put a stop to that conduct.
- Leave the area. While this may seem unfair, it is sometimes best for your safety and well-being if you leave the area, especially if you feel uncomfortable around the offender or their conduct. After separating yourself from the conduct, you may wish to take additional actions.
- If you are comfortable doing so, ask an Arkham Con staff member for help. You can find Arkham Con staff at the registration desk and participating in the Event.
- Report the incident formally to Arkham Con, on-site or online. You may go to the registration deck to file an incident report in person. This can also be done anytime during or after the Event by emailing ArkhamCommunityCon@gmail.com.
- Contact the police or other appropriate authorities. Your health and safety are our most important concern. If you require immediate assistance from law enforcement, medical services, or other governmental entities, please do not hesitate to contact such services directly.
Based on any informal or formal complaint or report of harassment, Arkam Con may take the following steps. Note that this list is not exhaustive, and other appropriate action may be taken as necessary.
- Read and investigate all reports. Arkham Con documents and reviews all reports. Reporting parties may be contacted for further clarifying information, unless they have submitted a report anonymously or asked to not be contacted further. Note that Arkham Con will not share the results of these reports with anyone, including the person who filed the report, unless required by law.
- Intercede if and when appropriate. Arkham Con staff may take immediate action to address harassment concerns, including but not limited to, escorting participants to a location in which they feel safe, refunding tickets, cancelling activities, requesting participants leave a specific area, removing offenders from the Event, or banning offenders from the Event. Bans and removals may be on a temporary basis, for the duration of the Event, or permanent.
- Contact police and medical authorities when appropriate. If, upon review, Arkham Con finds that relevant local government officials should be notified, Arkham Con may contact such entities and/or share confidential information as required by law.
Arkham Con participants found to have violated the Code of Conduct may be subject to sanctions, including but not limited to:
- Verbal or written warning
- Requiring the participant to avoid any interaction with, and physical proximity to the party or parties involved
- Temporary suspension from any Arkham Con sponsored events or online services
- Permanent ban from any Arkham Con sponsored events or online services
- Immediate expulsion from the convention without refund
- Reporting of the incident to the appropriate authorities
Arkham Con’s Code of Conduct applies in all physical and online spaces within Arkham Con’s control. Arkham Con may be made aware of behavior by participants (or potential participants) that has occurred outside of Arkham Con — either online or offline — and is a gross violation of our Code of Conduct. These actions need not occur in Arkham Con-affiliated spaces to be considered for sanctions by Arkham Con. These include, but are not limited to:
- Individuals who have not attended Arkham Con but have a history of abusive behavior and/or known incidents that took place outside Arkham Con that may cause risks to a participant’s safety, or which may contribute to a hostile or non-inclusive environment at the convention
- Arkham Con participants who have been reported for outside incidents, including, but not limited to, conduct at other conventions, threatening or abusive behavior online, or assault.
We understand that, at times, participants will have disagreements or interpersonal conflicts that do not necessarily escalate to the point of harassment or abuse. Arkham Con will not arbitrate such disagreements—we ask that you please leave these conflicts at homeWe understand that, at times, participants will have disagreements or interpersonal conflicts that do not necessarily escalate to the point of harassment or abuse. Arkham Con will not arbitrate such disagreements—we ask that you please leave these conflicts at home.
Arkham Con continuously strives to create a safe and welcoming space. Should you have any suggestions for how we can improve, please email us at ArkhamCommunityCon@gmail.com.