Purpose of Policy

NESEA is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for our events and programs. In accordance with that commitment, we have developed an anti-harassment policy to support the experience of our community.

• Offensive verbal comments
• Harassing or non-consensual photography or recording
• Bathroom policing
• Intimidation or threatening comments
• Stalking
• Physical assault and/or battery
• Sustained or intentional disruption of sessions or other events
• Inappropriate/unwelcome physical contact
• Hate symbols or hate speech
• Other non-professional behavior      

• Race or ethnicity
• National origin
• Gender identity or presentation 
• Sexual orientation
• Body size
• Appearance
• Citizenship
• Age
• Disability
• Religion
• Pregnancy

This policy applies to all members of our community, including staff, attendees, board members, exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, volunteers, and any other person who is part of a NESEA event or program, whether in-person or virtual. If a person engages in harassing behavior, staff will take prompt action in any form they deem appropriate, including expulsion from the event with no refund.  

The structure and language of this policy was developed after reviewing similar policies from several events and organizations, including Northeastern Political Science Association, The Future of Privacy Forum, and New York Comic Con.

NESEA’s in-person gathering policy is based on the CDC’s definition of community transmission of COVID-19 and includes all counties that event attendees originate from. This policy is intended to be used as a guide for event organizers to use in their decision making process about whether or not an in-person event can occur.

Levels of Community Transmission of COVID-19 as defined by the CDC:

• Low: <200 cases per 100,000 people, <10 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and <10% percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-19 patients
• Medium: ≥200 cases per 100,000 people, 10-19.9 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and <10-14.9% percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-19 patients OR ≥200 cases per 100,000 people, <10 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and <10% percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-19 patients
• High: ≥200 cases per 100,000 people, ≥20 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and ≥15% percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-19 patients OR ≥200 cases per 100,000 people, ≥10 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and ≥10% percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by COVID-19 patients

To use these guidelines:

1. Select all the event characteristics that apply, use the most stringent safety protocols attributed to a particular event characteristic.
2. Choose the highest community transmission rate represented by at least one attendee.
3. Locate the community transmission rate by county, use this map.
4. Four or more weeks before the scheduled event date: evaluate feasibility of event based on required safety protocols and make a decision about the structure of the event moving forward (in person vs virtual). (As an event draws closer, if transmission rates increase, the structure of the event would change accordingly.)
5. Note: venue requirements supersede NESEA’s requirements in the event that they are more stringent.

Last updated April 26, 2022