WPSA CONFERENCE COVID-19 POLICY
The following COVID-19 Policy will be in effect for the
2022 WPSA Conference:
1. All conference attendees are required to show proof of being fully
vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Proof of vaccination must be sent
to favilaej@csus.edu prior to the conference. After we receive your email,
we will send a notification when your status has been verified. We will
then delete the email to protect privacy. (Some restaurants and other
institutions in Portland are requiring proof of vaccination, so bring
your vaccination card or a photo of it with you even if you email a copy
of the card to us ahead of time.)
2. Exceptions to the vaccine requirement will be made for health or religious
reasons. However, individuals who seek an exemption must supply proof
of a negative COVID test received within 72 hours of the conference itself.
3. All conference attendees are required to wear masks at all conference
events, except when eating or drinking. Conference attendees who fail
to comply with the mask mandate will be required to leave the room.
4. The conference hotel will regularly clean all public spaces throughout
the conference. This includes sanitizing and disinfecting panel rooms
and other event spaces before the start of each day’s session.
5. Sanitizing stations will be placed in prominent positions and high
traffic areas around the event space, meal and beverage service areas,
public restrooms, and congregating areas.
The WPSA Conference Covid-19 policy is subject to change as conditions
in Portland warrant.
WPSA Celebrates
75 Years Young!
The WPSA is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022. As
part of the celebration, we are launching a major fundraising
campaign and planning a variety of special events at our annual conference.
We are also devoting several pages on of our website to mark the anniversary.
These pages contain histories
of WPSA groups, a timeline
of the association’s own history, and an overview of the significant
innovations
that WPSA members and groups have contributed to the discipline. In addition,
we have created a Graffiti
Wall where members are asked to post short messages on what
the WPSA has meant to them and their careers. Please add your comments
to the Wall, join in the conference festivities, and consider donating
to the 75th Anniversary Fundraising campaign. The money is going to a
good cause. To find out more, follow the link here to Anniversary’s
main web page.
CELEBRATING OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN PORTLAND,
OREGON
Lighting Up the New Dawn— Recover, Reconcile,
and Rebuild @ 75
The Western Political Science Association will host its 2022 annual meeting
at the Hilton Hotel on March 10 - 12, 2022, in Portland Oregon. Please
make plans to attend and encourage others to join us! The DEADLINE
for submission of paper proposals/program participation forms has been
extended to September 27, 2021. Additionally, the deadline
for submissions for the undergraduate poster session is October 30, 2021.
We are currently updating our information and will post meeting information
soon.
The
Climate Crisis, Academic Conferences, and the
Western Political Science Association
A statement reflecting on the choices confronting the WPSA in
light of the carbon impact of academic conferences. Written by WPSA president
Jamie Mayerfeld, joined by the members of the WPSA Climate Action Committee.
WPSA Anti-Harassment Policy
1. Purpose
The Western Political Science Association was created for the purposes
of promoting the study and teaching of government and politics, to foster
research, and to facilitate the discussion of public affairs. The Association
promotes these purposes in the spirit of free inquiry and free expression.
The primary event in which WPSA members gather is at the Association’s
annual conference. Harassment of colleagues, students, or other participants
at the conference, or at any other WPSA-sponsored event or forum, undermines
the principle of equity at the heart of the Association’s principles
and is inconsistent with the principles of free inquiry and free expression.
Consequently, harassment is considered by the WPSA to be a serious form
of professional misconduct.
The WPSA is committed to providing a safe and welcoming conference environment
for all participants, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, or religion.
“Participant” in this policy refers to anyone present at
or directly involved in WPSA meetings, including staff, contractors, vendors,
exhibitors, venue staff, WPSA members, and all other attendees.
2. Expected Behavior
All participants at WPSA meetings are expected to abide by this Anti-Harassment
Policy in all meeting venues including ancillary events and official and
unofficial social gatherings.
• Abide by the norms of professional respect that are necessary
to promote the conditions for free academic interchange;
• If you witness potential harm to a conference participant, be
proactive in helping to mitigate or avoid that harm;
• Alert conference or security personnel if you see a situation
in which someone might be in imminent physical danger.
3. Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behaviors include:
• persistent and unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical
intimacy;
• persistent and unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical
intimacy accompanied by real or implied threat of professional harm;
• intimidating, harassing, abusive, derogatory, or demeaning speech
or actions by any participant in an WPSA meeting and/or at any related
event;
• prejudicial actions or comments related to race, gender, sexual
orientation, religion, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age,
or religion that coerce others, foment broad hostility, or otherwise undermine
professional equity or the principles of free academic exchange;
• deliberate intimidation, stalking or following;
• harassing photography or recording;
• sustained disruption of talks or other events;
• physical assault (including unwelcome touch or groping);
• real or implied threat of physical harm.