SBDC Etiquette Policy

1. Before taking a partner out onto the floor, ask if he/she would like to dance and wait for a response. If the response is no, accept this promptly and politely and move on to another person.
2. You may ask, but not expect our Dance TA's to teach material beyond that covered in the dance class. These requests are of lower priority than attending to the needs of other students who are trying to master class material. In addition, TA's are not required to help students outside of class (although some may enjoy it). Bear this in mind when asking for help.
3. Respecting the SBDC means respecting our officers. In return for their contribution of time, labor, and initiative, all of our officers are empowered to make decisions on behalf of the club, and those decisions are final and must be obeyed in order to remain a member of the club. Do not "appeal" a decision to another officer or to the president. This will not change the decision and will waste club resources (i.e. the time and effort of our officers).
4. When you are asked to dance by someone whom you do not wish to dance with, please say "no" firmly and clearly. On occasion, you may need to express yourself with some force to make your refusal understood. Please help us to maintain a civil dance environment, and do not reward those who behave in a rude or overbearing manner by agreeing to dance with them. If you believe an individual is in violation of the SBDC's Etiquette and/or Sexual Harrassment Policies, please inform a club official about it as soon as possible. Such behaviors will be promptly addressed by the club officers. Measures taken may include, but are not limited to, asking a member to leave the club. In signing up for SBDC classes you agree to honor such a request. Complaints received regarding behaviors not detailed above, but which are detrimental to the supportive atmosphere of the club, will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Sexual Harassment Guidelines

1. Making sexual advances on the dance floor is not allowed. People are welcome to make dates to see each other outside of the dance floor. However, physical advances at SBDC events are not permitted.
2. During the dance, touching one's partner in ways that are not part of the dance (whether or not touching has sexual connotations to a given individual) are not allowed.
3. There are certain kinds of touching that should never happen at SBDC events, even if people know dance moves that would involve them. Touching a woman's breasts or anyone's genitalia is not acceptable.
4. Removing or undoing any article of a partner's clothing for any reason (other than life saving medical procedures) is not acceptable.
5. Making explicit sexual remarks during an SBDC event should be avoided. Such remarks include (but are not limited to): sexual comments about how a partner is dressed, sexual propositioning, sexual jokes, etc.
6. It is inappropriate to continue any behavior towards another person after one has been asked to stop. If such behavior is sexual in nature, it will constitute sexual harrassment.

The above six points describe behaviors which are grounds for asking a member to stop attending SBDC events. By signing up for SBDC classes individuals agree to honor such a request. Other behaviors, although not explicitly detailed above, may also serve to produce an uncomfortable environment. These will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

No official decision will be made by SBDC until both the person filing the complaint and the person against whom the complaint is made have been approached by SBDC officers. It is the desire of the SBDC to use a "common sense" approach towards such cases. Our goal is to keep the SBDC a safe dance space: both safe from sexual harrassment and safe from fear of being accused of sexual harrassment.

Please note that it is not the SBDC's desire to become an organization of dance police. However, when complaints arise we will take action, even if the offending individual perceives his or her actions as just a joke. If a dance partner complains that he or she was made to feel uncomfortable, the actions are in violation of this policy. In other words, only use jokes if you are certain that your humor will be received favorably.

Finally, if you have any comments or questions about this policy, or if you have been sexually harrassed at an SBDC event, please contact us at sbdc_registrar@yahoo.com.