Code of Conduct

Expectations for Conduct

We want everyone to feel safe and included when interacting with the UBC Black Graduate Student Network (BGSN), regardless of their various identities, including gender, age, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, immigration status or economic background. It is our priority to ensure that all members, volunteers, guests, attendees, and participants feel safe, supported and celebrated as part of our community, events, and initiatives.

You can help us make the BGSN a welcome space for all by

Conducting yourself responsibly and prioritizing safety and consent (yours and others).

If people aren’t into flirting with you, having another round of drinks or hanging out after an event—respect that.

We would also encourage mindfulness of the various power dynamics at play (for example, faculty/student, supervisor/supervisee, etc.) when interacting with others that may affect whether an individual may feel they can refuse or disengage (verbally and otherwise) from certain interactions or behaviours.

Respecting our event team, other guests, and the venue(s).

Practicing bystander intervention and communicating with the event team if you witness or have concerns about someone being subjected to any form of violence (including sexual harassment).

Let someone know if anything makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Speak to any member of the event team about your concerns!

Behaviours that will be addressed

  • Non-consensual touching, pushy compliments, aggressively or persistently trying to interact or flirt with people, especially after they have said no will not be tolerated.
  • Words, actions and clothing that perpetuate or glorify sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of power-based violence (yes, this includes jokes).
  • Theft, fighting, drink-spiking and other dangerous or criminal acts.
  • Failing to respect or observe this Code of Conduct, campus policies and/or direction of the organizers of our events and initiatives.

Over the course of addressing behaviours, we reserve the right to

  • Ask you to change your behaviour; leave the event or step back from your role in the group, activity, or initiative; and/or not engage in future BGSN activities.
  • Encourage you to engage further resources and services to address your behaviour and participate in accountability processes where relevant.