First, I’d like the AoIR executive committee to create and open for member review a specific anti-harassment statement for its conferences and other activities. I know we have a diversity and inclusivity statement, but I’d like us to have a more formal policy regarding how harassment will be handled if it happens either at the conference proper, on the mailing list, and/or on Twitter, etc. (something, perhaps like Theorizing the Web’s statement: http://theorizingtheweb.tumblr.com/post/79357700249/anti-harassment-statemen... <http://theorizingtheweb.tumblr.com/post/79357700249/anti-harassment-statement>). This seems critical if we are going to make AoIR a safe space for everyone.
I recently attended the TtW conference, and while I think the anti-harassment statement makes a great start, I think there are other important steps that can be taken for thinking about conferences as safe spaces. I've written more about this here: http://skycroeser.net/2015/04/20/theorizing-the-web-and-conferences-as-techn...