Standards of conduct

As a new theater we care deeply about implementing policies that will build a healthy community. With that in mind we introduce our standards of conduct. 
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Strike Theater (sometimes referred to herein as “Strike”) as an institution, and each of its instructors, creative and administrative managers, staff members and interns are very seriously committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment where creativity can flourish.
 
The greater Strike Theater community is here to learn, perform, inspire each other, build careers, foster friendships, and make our lives better through infinitely rewarding art forms. The following policy is in support of those goals, and is in keeping with the values necessary to sustain a supportive educational and creative environment.
 
Strike believes that with a combination of respect, communication, common sense, and empathy, the community can create an environment that prioritizes safety while also doing work of the highest quality.
 
It is the policy of Strike Theater to maintain an educational, performing and working environment free from sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, age-based, disability, sexual orientation, and gender expression harassment and bullying. Such harassment is expressly prohibited.
 
STRIKE THEATER DOES NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, BULLYING, OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
 
No individual should be subjected to any unwelcome conduct that is or should be known to be offensive because of his or her gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity and/or expression.
 
Strike is a private institution and the opportunity to perform or take classes at Strike or participate in any other Strike activity or event is always at the sole discretion of Strike Theater and its management.
 
Strike Theater is within its rights to revoke, suspend, and/or permanently ban anyone from participating in some or all Strike related activities, with or without cause.
 
Current or prior permission to enter, take classes, or perform at any Strike location is not a promise or guarantee of future permission.
 
The reinstatement of any permission to participate in any Theater-related activity will be at the sole discretion of Strike Theater.
 
WHAT ARE HARASSMENT & SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
Harassment means any form of unwelcome written, verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from programs at Strike or makes Strike an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment.
 
Sexual Harassment means any form of unwelcome written, verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature (including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors) that has the purpose or effect of interfering with a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from programs at Strike or makes Strike an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment.
 
Sexual Harassment can be verbal (using language of an overtly sexual nature, making sexual comments about a person’s body, making sexual innuendos to a fellow student, artist, or employee, talking or asking about sexual preferences or history, making unwanted advances), non-verbal (looking a person up and down in a suggestive fashion, giving unwanted personal gifts, displaying sexually suggestive visual materials, offensive jokes, gestures, comments, or emails), or physical (unwanted touching of a person’s clothing, hair, or body, standing close or brushing against a person, giving unwanted massages.)
 
Sexual Harassment also includes sexual assault. No one at Strike (management, employee, instructor, performer, coach, etc.) may request or require an employee, student, instructor, applicant, performer, or anyone else to submit to sexual harassment as a condition of receiving any benefit such as a raise, promotion, or selection for a performance.
 
Harassment & Sexual Harassment may be subtle, manipulative, and is not always evident. All forms of gender harassment are included – men can harass men, women can harass women, men and women can be sexually harassed by either gender. Sexual Harassment also includes sexual assault which will be reported to authorities.
 
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying is repeated aggression conducted by an individual or a group against others - such aggressive behavior may be verbal, cyber, psychological or physical.

For the purposes of this policy, the term bullying also encompasses harassment and sexual harassment.

​Types of Bullying Behavior that are not tolerated:
Physical aggression
Damage to property
Intimidation
Gestures
Silent telephone/mobile phone calls
Abusive telephone/mobile phone calls
Abusive text messages
Abusive email/Facebook/social media messaging
The production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other materials aimed at intimidating another person
Isolation & exclusion
Harassment based on any of the nine grounds in the equality legislation e.g. sexual harassment, homophobic bullying, racist bullying etc
Name calling
A combination of any of the types listed

WHO AND WHERE DOES THIS APPLY TO?
This policy covers conduct that takes place at Strike Theater and any Strike sponsored events not at its physical theater location. This policy applies to the entire Strike community, including its visitors, volunteers, teachers, employees, directors, and managers. This policy also pertains to any electronic communication that occurs on social media accounts or pages involving, hosted by, or about Strike Theater or its events.
 
WHO DO I REPORT INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT TO?
If you become aware of discrimination or harassment in violation of the policies stated above, you are responsible for immediately reporting the matter to the manager, supervisor, instructor, or coach. You may also report the matter to Mike Fotis at [email protected], Joe Bozic at [email protected] or Allison Broeren at [email protected]. If you’d rather reach out to a third party that isn’t on staff please email Javier Morillo at [email protected].
 
Strike will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all complaints of harassment or discrimination. The board conducting the investigation may include staff and outside perspective committee members. The scope of the investigation will depend upon the specific circumstances, but may include interviews with the person making the complaint, the person against whom the complaint is made, any potential witnesses identified by either person, and any others whom Strike believes may have relevant information. The person making the complaint will be requested to put his or her complaint in writing.
 
You are expected to cooperate in this process, if asked to do so, and to provide truthful information. Strike will make every effort to respect the privacy of those involved in an investigation under this procedure. However, it should be understood that Strike may need to disclose certain information to complete our investigation or otherwise address the matters raised in the complaint. A request not to investigate a reported violation of this policy cannot be honored.
 
The results of the investigation will be discussed with those individuals involved and Strike will determine whether any action is warranted in response. Individuals who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including warnings, probation, and termination of employment or affiliation with Strike. The specific action taken will be consistent, reasonable, fair, and match the severity of the incident.
 
Any person who knowingly provides false or fabricated information in connection with an investigation under this policy may be subject to appropriate discipline or other corrective action at the discretion of Strike.
 
Strike will not retaliate against any person for making a good faith complaint under this policy, regardless of the outcome of the investigation. Similarly, Strike will not retaliate against any person for providing truthful information in connection with an investigation under this policy. Any employee, instructor or performer at Strike who retaliates against another for utilizing in good faith the procedures in this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination or termination of their affiliation with Strike, as the circumstances warrant.
 
Please note that if in the course of an investigation Strike learns that a crime has been committed, Strike may be obligated to report that crime to the relevant authorities. Similarly, Strike will comply with any requests for records or information made in connection with any Police investigation as required by law, or with any subpoena issued lawfully in any legal proceeding.