Dayton Poetry Slam Community Guidelines

We seek to balance having an open and diverse community with maintaining a space where that community feels they can share their writing on stage in a safe environment. To do this, we are setting forth the following guidelines to ensure members of our community can feel safe, there is a clear definition of what is not acceptable behavior, and what happens when that behavior occurs. These guidelines also exist to ensure equity in the actions taken by the board when someone violates these guidelines.

1. Willful statements of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other hate speech being directed at members of our will not be tolerated. When statements of this nature are made, they will result in a suspension from the slam.

2. Verbal threats of violence directed at members of our community will result in a suspension from the slam.

3. Acts of violence towards members of our community will result in a suspension from the slam.

Please Note – Any acts of violence resulting in a police report being made will result in a minimum one-year suspension. Any conviction a lifetime ban. If a protection order is put in place, the suspension will be for no less time than that of the protection order.

4. Attempts to damage any venue Dayton Poetry Slam takes place in will result in a suspension the length of which will be at the discretion of venue staff and ownership.

5. The length of this suspension will be no less than three months and no more than one year. The length will be determined based on the actions that occurred and what the board decides after speaking with the person who made the request.

6. All suspensions, unless previously noted, will be made utilizing redemptive justice. This will result in the suspended individual being asked to take steps to change their behavior patterns by the time the suspension ends. If there is no effort made, the suspension will be extended indefinity until the suggested steps have been taken.

7. Any secondary actions, after an initial suspension, will result in a lifetime ban.

8. If a member of the board engages in actions that would result in a suspension, they will have no role in determining the length of their suspension. They will also be unable to return to a board role within the slam in the future.

9. By attending Dayton Poetry Slam shows, you agree to these community guidelines.