Universal Healthcare
Dickens Project Code of Conduct and Statement on Harassment
The Dickens Universe brings together scholars, teachers, students, and book-lovers of all backgrounds and experiences in order to create a vibrant community of intellectual collaboration and conversation. The conference provides a rare opportunity for this diverse group of people to spend a week learning, living and socializing together. We believe that intellectual excitement unfolds around dining tables and under redwood trees as much as it does in lecture halls and seminar rooms, and we want all participants in the Dickens Universe to feel welcomed, valued, and comfortable fostering productive professional and social bonds with one another. The friendships and mentoring relationships that form in this unique environment are valuable to all of us, and we rely on everyone to conduct themselves in ways that allow these connections to develop in healthy and mutually beneficial ways.
All members of the Dickens community have the right to participate in and enjoy the Dickens Universe without suffering or witnessing harassment, bullying, or intimidation directed toward any community member. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, such as unwelcome sexual advances, other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature, or the use of sexual language/images in professional conversations and settings. Harassment also comprises activities/behaviors such as stalking, queer/trans bullying, or hostility, abuse, and/or violence (verbal or physical) related to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or citizenship. Such conduct is harmful, disrespectful and unprofessional. No Universe participant should ever engage in harassment, bullying, or intimidation of other participants or community members either in person or online.
By attending the Universe, all participants accept the obligation to uphold the rights of other community members and to treat everyone with respect. Universe participants who are found to be engaging in harassment, bullying, or intimidation will be held accountable and may be excused from participating in the Universe and future Dickens Project conferences. Anyone who experiences or witnesses any of these behaviors should contact the Dickens Project Best Practices Coordinators or any member of the Executive Committee. The UC Santa Cruz Title IX office is also available to receive reports and/or offer advice:
Phone: 831-459-2462
Online: https://titleix.ucsc.edu
In person: 105 Kerr Hall
Community Guidelines Regarding Language, Hate Speech, and Terminology
In order to foster an enriching conversation among our community, we expect all participants to abide by the following terms:
Our conversations will be free of hate speech regarding race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, religion, national origin, and socio-economic class or background. The use of slurs and epithets by either speakers or participants will not be tolerated and will result in removal from the Universe.
Following the expertise and guidance of scholars in Black and African American studies, we will adopt the preferred language that addresses the racism of historically used terms. This includes enslaved person/worker/mother/child rather than “slave”; enslaver vs. “master” or “mistress”; mixed-race person vs “mulatto,” “quadroon,” etc. We will also name rape and other forms of sexual assault as such, particularly when referring to the rape and other sexual assault of enslaved people or literary characters, rather than using euphemisms such as “sexual affair” or “sexual intercourse.” We acknowledge that for some this may be new terminology, but we ask that you strive to follow best practices as we embrace anti-racist practices as an organization.
This is our Universe. Let’s keep it a benevolent, thriving, and intellectually vital place.
