The ATHENA{techne} community is made up of women with a diverse set of skills, personalities, and experiences. It is through these differences that our community experiences great successes and continued growth. When you're working with members of the community, this Code of Conduct will help steer your interactions and keep ATHENA{techne} a positive, successful, and growing community.

Our Community

Members of the ATHENA{techne} community are open, considerate, and respectful. Behaviors that reinforce these values contribute to a positive environment, and include:

• Being open. Members of the community are open to collaboration.

• Focusing on what is best for the community. We're respectful of the processes set forth in the community, and we work within them.

• Acknowledging time and effort. We're respectful of the volunteer efforts that permeate the ATHENA{techne} community. We're thoughtful when addressing the efforts of others, keeping in mind that often times the labor was completed simply for the good of the community.

• Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences. We're receptive to constructive comments and criticism, as the experiences and skill sets of other members contribute to the whole of our efforts.

• Showing empathy towards other community members. We're attentive in our communications, whether in person or online, and we're tactful when approaching differing views.

• Being considerate. Members of the community are considerate of their peers.

• Being respectful. We're respectful of others, their positions, their skills, their commitments, and their efforts.

• Gracefully accepting constructive criticism. When we disagree, we are courteous in raising our issues.

• Using welcoming and inclusive language. We're accepting of all who wish to take part in our activities, fostering an environment where anyone can participate and everyone can make a difference.

Our Standards

Every member of our community has the right to have their identity respected. The ATHENA{techne} community is dedicated to providing a positive experience for everyone, regardless of age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion (or lack thereof), education, or socioeconomic status.

Inappropriate Behavior

Examples of unacceptable behavior by participants include:

• Harassment of any participants in any form

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

• Logging or taking screenshots of online activity for harassment purposes

• Publishing others' private information, such as a physical or electronic address, without explicit permission

• Violent threats or language directed against another person

• Incitement of violence or harassment towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm

• Creating additional online accounts in order to harass another person or circumvent a ban

• Sexual language and imagery in online communities or in any conference venue, including talks

• Insults, put downs, or jokes that are based upon stereotypes, that are exclusionary, or that hold others up for ridicule

• Excessive swearing

• Unwelcome sexual attention or advances

• Unwelcome physical contact, including simulated physical contact (eg, textual descriptions like "hug" or "backrub") without consent or after a request to stop

• A pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others

• Sustained disruption of online community discussions, in-person presentations, or other in-person events

• Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease

• Other conduct that is inappropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds

Community members asked to stop any inappropriate behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Weapons Policy

No weapons are allowed at ATHENA{techne} or on the University of Memphis campus. Weapons include but are not limited to explosives (including fireworks), guns, and large knives such as those used for hunting or display, as well as any other item used for the purpose of causing injury or harm to others. Anyone seen in possession of one of these items will be asked to leave immediately, and will only be allowed to return without the weapon.

Consequences

If a participant engages in behavior that violates this code of conduct, the ATHENA{techne} Code of Conduct team may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund of tickets. 

Thank you for helping make this a welcoming, friendly community for everyone.