Code of Conduct

The Northeast 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.

The Northeast 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Conference Policies

Currently questions and answers around NEPCA’s policies regarding the conference.

• What does NEPCA expect of conference presenters?
• Can undergraduate students submit proposals for the NEPCA Conference?
• What is NEPCA’s policy on refunds?
• Does NEPCA penalize no-shows?
• Does NEPCA allow vendors to display at its annual conferences?
• Can vendors display wares if they do not attend?
• Does NEPCA allow attendees to promote their own work?

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What does NEPCA expect of conference presenters?

NEPCA volunteers labor long and hard to craft the best possible conference program. In return, NEPCA 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 NEPCA’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 NEPCA 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.

 What is NEPCA’s policy on refunds?

 NEPCA has no control over the fixed costs associated with its conferences. Our vendors charge NEPCA a per capita rate that is the same whether or not an individual actually attends the conference. With this in mind, NEPCA’s policy on refunds is as follows:

• NEPCA cannot issue refunds to those who register for the conference and do not attend.
• NEPCA will consider refunds in emergency situations, but these are the discretion of the NEPCA Executive Council.

 Does NEPCA penalize no-shows?

NEPCA understands that there are some circumstances beyond one’s control. The organization seeks to be understanding of those who do the courtesy of alerting conference organizers of emergencies and other misfortunes that prevent attendance. However, NEPCA reserves the right to take the following steps depending upon the context:

• No refund will be issued for ex post facto contacts.
• NEPCA may reject future paper proposals for a period of three years.
• NEPCA may notify INS if a foreign presenter has traveled to the United States under a special visa and does not attend the conference.
• NEPCA may not verify attendance of a person who did not show for their presentation to inquiring deans, chairs, advisors, and others.

Does NEPCA allow vendors to display at its annual conferences?

NEPCA welcomes publishers and other vendors who wish to display their wares at its annual conference. The following conditions apply:

The vendor must complete this Registration Form.

1. The vendor assumes all responsibility for transporting materials to the conference, setting up displays, staffing the site, tearing down displays, and removing all items at the rise of the conference.
2. Please note: NEPCA’s nonprofit status prohibits if from collecting money directly or indirectly engaging in direct retail activity. Vendors must assume responsibility for all monetary transactions.

Please submit the above form and send $100 to our PayPal Account: NortheastPopCulture@gmail.com.  Or you can mail a check to:

NEPCA Executive Secretary
Lance Eaton
95 Melrose Street
Arlington, MA, 02474

 Can vendors display wares if they do not attend? 

 If a vendor wishes to display books or other items at a NEPCA conference, the organization will waive the fee in such cases providing that the following conditions are accepted:

1. Vendors must ship all materials directly to the conference site. NEPCA cannot assume responsibility for transfers or pickups.
2. Vendors should send only materials that can be displayed on flat tables. As an all-volunteer organization NEPCA does not have the personnel to assemble display racks or any other complicated set up.
3. All materials will be considered donations to NEPCA. We cannot box and return items. Our policy is to assign books, DVDs, software, etc. to members for review in NEPCA Journal and to donate any items not assigned for review.

Vendors should contact Executive Secretary Lance Eaton if they need information on NEPCA’s nonprofit status: northeastpopculture@gmail.com. 

Does NEPCA allow attendees to promote their own work?  

NEPCA 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. NEPCA 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.

For-profit organizations must adhere to the NEPCA vendor polices outlined above.

The following conditions apply:

1. NEPCA’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. NEPCA cannot promote or advocate political or private agendas.
3. NEPCA 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 NEPCA will display items that can be placed upon tables. NEPCA will not assemble display racks or any other complex set up.
6. NEPCA 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, NEPCA 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 NEPCA policies or wish details on how to ship materials should contact NEPCA Executive Secretary: NortheastPopCulture@gmail.com.