SSSMG Code of Conduct

Adopted March 2020

The Society for the Study of Sound and Music in Games, as the official umbrella organisation for the conference committees of the North American Conference on Video Game Music and the Ludomusicology Research Group, is committed to creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for all members and conference delegates. Verbal, physical, or digital harassment based on race/ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, age, sexual orientation, or physical ability/disability will not be tolerated. The policies in this Code of Conduct reflect our expectations for participants at all affiliate conferences and events, and indicate potential consequences for unacceptable behavior. Membership of the Society, as well as attendance, registration, and participation at any SSSMG-affiliate conference or event, constitutes agreement to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Expected Behavior for Society Members and Affiliated Conference Attendees

  • Members and attendees should engage thoughtfully and respectfully with one another at all times.
  • Although a single instance of unwelcomed behavior does not necessarily constitute “harassment,” members and attendees should respect the personal boundaries and indicated preferences of other members and attendees.
  • Sharing content, whether on the member forum, in the form of a conference presentation, or other format, containing suggestive, offensive, or overly graphic content (including language, descriptions, images, or videos) should include appropriate warnings at the start.
  • Shared content containing images or videos that could reasonably be expected to detrimentally affect people with conditions such as epilepsy or PTSD should include appropriate warning prior to the start.

Unacceptable Behavior

  • Subjecting any member, employee, volunteer, or attendee to sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual overtures, including (but not limited to):
    • sex-oriented “jokes” or “teasing”;
    • repeated instances of unwelcome sexual flirtations or propositions, whether overt or subtle;
    • repeated unwelcome comments about an individual or their appearance;
    • display (via clothing or any other means) of sexually suggestive images or text;
    • inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact.
  • Harassment on any other grounds (race/ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, age, sexual orientation, or physical ability/disability), including but not limited to:
    • repeated unwelcome “jokes “ or “teasing”;
    • verbal, physical, or digital abuse or intimidation;
    • display (via clothing or any other means) of images or text that might reasonably be perceived as offensive.
  • Possession at an affiliated conference of any materials that violate the local laws or the policies of the hosting organization or venue, including but not limited to:
    • any weapon that conference attendees may reasonably find threatening;
    • any illegal substance.
  • Otherwise failing to comply with local laws or with the policies of the host venue.

How to Report Code of Conduct Violations

  • If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior, please notify the indicated conference officials, hosts, or venue personnel as soon as possible. The appropriate contact persons should be indicated in conference materials and on the society website.
  • You may contact the Executive Committee anonymously using the Contact form here: https://www.sssmg.org/wp/about-sssmg/ and entering “Anonymous” as the name, and “anon@sssmg.org” as the email address.
  • Note: All reports will remain as confidential as possible within legal limits.

Possible Consequences of Code of Conduct Violations

  • Anyone requested by officials or by peers to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
  • If unacceptable behavior persists, the conference organizers may take additional actions, including but not limited to:
    • expulsion from the event without warning or refund;
    • revocation of SSSMG membership;
    • exclusion from affiliate conference events for a length of time to be determined by the Executive Committee.

For further information, please also review our Misconduct Policy.

This statement was adapted from Code of Conduct statements and Harassment policies disseminated by the American Musicological Society (AMS) and the Game Developers’ Conference (GDC).