Code of Conduct

Purpose

APDA must give effect to the principle that all participants at events organized by its members should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as participants in such events, without being hindered in doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or disability, and to be free from harassment and intimidation in the performance of these duties and obligations.

Prohibited grounds of discrimination or harassment

All participants at a tournament hosted by an APDA member shall not engage in any behavior that will undermine or attack the goals and purposes of APDA including:

  1. making denigrating comments on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or disability;
  2. harassing, threatening, assaulting or intimidating other participants; or
  3. damaging, destroying, or stealing any property that does not belong to them.

Complaints Officer

  1. All sanctioned tournaments hosted by APDA members shall appoint a Complaints Officer to investigate any complaints, including those under section 2. At the member’s discretion, this officer may be affiliated with the APDA member, or an outside party (such as an EOF).
  2. Prior to a tournament’s commencement, the APDA member hosting the tournament shall outline and publicize the procedures for investigating and resolving complaints made to the Complaints Officer.
  3. All procedures for investigating and resolving complaints must include the following:
    1. a process for the making of anonymous complaints;
    2. a process for the accused persons or persons to make a written statement responding to the allegation against him or her;
    3. a process for investigating whether prohibited actions have been taken;
    4. a process for determining the appropriate punishment in the event of a prohibited action; and
    5. a process for informing all affected parties.
  4. The APDA board shall provide guidelines and offer assistance to APDA members for the investigation and resolution of complaints.
  5. The duties of the Complaints Officers include, but are not limited to:
    1. Being aware of all security resources of the institution at which the tournament is hosted;
    2. Being visible and available for the duration of the tournament, including attendance at social events;
    3. Acting in a responsible manner and being prepared to deal with any eventuality at all times;
    4. Investigating all complaints; and
    5. Issuing a report to the EOF Secretary at the close of the tournament.

Recommendations For The EOF Program

  1. The EOFs should work with APDA member institutions’ to understand their schools complaint arbitration procedures and how they might be applied to teams and tournaments.
  2. The EOFs should take active steps to provide tournament directors with the names of individuals who have been removed from their teams because of violations.
  3. The EOFs should work to help member institutions implement the above procedures.