Raise the Rafters is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for all attendees. To make this happen, we need everyone to treat others with respect and consideration.
We expect that our attendees will:
- Respect other people’s boundaries, both explicit and implicit.
- Take “no” for an answer, whether the question concerns singing, socializing, communication, or sex.
- Avoid degrading, shaming, or disrespecting others for any aspect of their identity, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, employment status, disability, religion or lack thereof.
- Avoid stalking, harassment, or unwanted sexually suggestive comments or gestures.
- Respect others’ gender identities; use their correct pronouns.
- Ask for permission before recording audio or video of other campers.
- Refrain from sharing others’ personal information, unless given explicit permission to do so.
- Practice affirmative consent: ask first, and respect the answer you get.
At RTR, we will be engaging with the same tradition from a number of perspectives, and opening ourselves up to hard conversations and discussions. In song sessions, discussion spaces, and workshops, we set these expectations for our campers and ourselves:
- In song spaces, make sure you give others a chance to start songs.
- When entering a sing, try to read the room and share its energy rather than asking it to match yours.
- At RTR, there will be hard conversations about serious subjects. Try to assume good intentions on both sides, even when disagreements happen.
- We believe that offering comment or criticism, should mean you believe the other person can listen to and consider it honestly. Accept such feedback in good faith. Sharing comments and criticism takes bravery, as does accepting it without taking it as a personal attack.
- Be as kind as you can. We’ve all been through a lot.
Harassment policy:
We take reports of harassment very seriously. Harassment can happen to anyone and be perpetrated by anyone, regardless of identity or orientation. Such behavior is antithetical to the mission of RTR and will not be tolerated in our spaces.
As a first step, we encourage you to talk to the person harassing you and ask them to stop. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, or if you do and they don’t stop, please contact a member of the RTR committee. We’ll be present during the weekend, and we’ll also have a digital channel that we will monitor over the course of the event.
We will handle all reports confidentially and assume them to be honest and truthful.
~ What happens after the committee gets a report of harassment? ~
First, we’ll check with the person who was harassed and help you get anything you need, including medical care if appropriate.
From there, we’ll talk with you about your options. Our goal is to support you and help you feel as safe and comfortable as possible in our space, and there are many ways we can do that. For example, we can:
- Be a safe space and person to talk to
- Keep an eye on a person’s behavior
- Talk to people on your behalf and help resolve issues
- Help you find other options for participation in the event if your routes towards participation have become unsafe
- Start the process of throwing someone out
- Help you deal with the police
Recording Policy:
Our recording policy has changed from last year, please find it here: Recording Policy
Substance Policy:
RTR strives to be an accessible and comfortable space for as many singers as possible.
We recognize that alcohol and other substances can be an important part of some people’s social singing experiences, while others would prefer to avoid them altogether. , we encourage our attendees to be considerate around their use of substances over the weekend. There will be several designated “dry” spaces, so please look for those labels and follow accordingly.
Beyond the dry spaces, please be safe, be courteous, and consume substances only in moderation. Substance-related misconduct will result in the attendee being asked to leave the event, without refund, and they may be banned from future RTR events.
Fragrance Policy
Some people are extremely sensitive to fragrances that are used in many cleaning and personal care products. We are not able to guarantee a fragrance-free environment for all attendees at this time, but we strongly encourage all attendees to minimize fragrance in personal care products you use before and during camp.