Code of Conduct and Other Conference Policies

Code of Conduct

The Midwest Popular Culture Association prides itself on being a welcoming space for new and emerging scholars to engage in discourse with more established scholars so that all participants end up with newer means of engaging in popular culture. Mutual respect represents all that we do and we wish to uphold that throughout our community.

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The Midwest Popular Culture is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone at all venues and events – such as conferences, virtual events, and related social events – that this policy applies to regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, age, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, national origin, or religion—and not limited to these aspects. We do not tolerate any form of harassment of conference participants.

 

Excessive sexual language or imagery not relevant to the presenter’s area of study is not appropriate for any conference venue or talks. Any participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.

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The following behaviors are expected and requested of all community members:

• Participate in an authentic and active way. In doing so, you contribute to the health and longevity of this community.

• Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.

• Attempt collaboration before conflict.

• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.

 

With virtual conferences, we recognize the risk for online trolling has increased. This behavior is unacceptable, and the organizers will be monitoring the various chat platforms and will act decisively and swiftly to end behavior they deem trolling.

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Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, age, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, national origin, or religion. Harassment also includes sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwelcome following (physically or digitally), harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

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If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. This can include the Executive Council, Program Chair, or Area Chairs.

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This policy has been borrowed and adapted from Wikimedia & Creative Commons.  This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

 

Conference Policies

These are just a few of our policies pertaining to conduct. You may find more FAQs and Policies here.

• What does MPCA expect of conference presenters?

• Can undergraduate students submit proposals for the MPCA Conference?

• Does MPCA allow attendees to promote their own work?

 

What does MPCA expect of conference presenters?

MPCA volunteers labor long and hard to craft the best possible conference program. In return, MPCA expects those who have agreed to present to take personal responsibility for:

• Securing any external funding necessary to underwrite their attendance

• That individuals whose papers are accepted will actually attend the conference or will decline MPCA’s invitation before pre-registration ends

• That any individual who must cancel will notify the Program Chair and appropriate Area Chair immediately

 

Can undergraduate students submit proposals for the MPCA Conference?

YES! We encourage undergraduate students to submit proposals as we like to promote the study of popular culture at all levels.  However, undergraduate students must have a faculty sponsor who vouches for the student’s work and proposal.  The faculty sponsor’s name, email, and position at an institute should be included in the brief bio section of the CFP.

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Does MPCA allow attendees to promote their own work?  

MPCA welcomes scholars that wish to advertise, promote, or sell their own books or other materials at annual conferences insofar as these materials are germane to the academic community. MPCA is also happy to cooperate with nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations, community groups, and professional organizations. There is no fee for displays for individuals or nonprofit groups to display their materials.

 

The following conditions apply:

1. MPCA’s nonprofit status restricts it from handling money for any private individual or outside group. All monetary transactions are the sole responsibility of the individual or nonprofit organization.

2. Individuals and groups are welcome to advertise conferences, promote professional organizations, issue calls for papers, and promote other scholarly pursuits. MPCA cannot promote or advocate political or private agendas.

3. MPCA assumes no responsibility for the content of or security of any materials displayed or distributed.

4. Individuals and organizations must transport or ship all books, flyers, brochures, and other materials to the conference site. Those attending the conference must assume responsibility for set ups and displays and must remove all materials and take down displays at the rise of the conference.

5. Individuals and organizations mailing or shipping materials for display and not attending the conference should understand that MPCA will display items that can be placed upon tables. MPCA will not assemble display racks or any other complex set up.

6. MPCA will not return unclaimed items. These will be donated or discarded at the rise of the conference.

7. Content and promotion is restricted to matters that are purely educational in content. As a nonprofit organization, MPCA is not allowed to engage in partisan political behavior. We also meet on college campuses that sometimes have very strict rules on outside advocacy.

 

Those who seek further information on MPCA policies or wish details on how to ship materials should contact MPCA Conference Coordinator Paul Booth pbooth81@gmail.com.