MarsCon considers itself a family friendly convention. All forms of harassment are detrimental to the health and well-being of our attendees and the convention in general. In an effort to enhance MarsCon’s standing in the Science Fiction Convention Universe, its staff is developing a standard harassment policy and reporting procedures.

It is imperative that everyone understands that No means No, Stop means Stop, and Leave Me Alone means Leave Me Alone! If attendees treat each other with common courtesy and respect, there should be no reason to institute the reporting procedures.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel you are being harassed, please maintain your cool and ask the person to stop. If they do not stop, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible. Find friends or a staff member and ask for assistance.

At no time is the use of aggression or physical force acceptable unless your life and wellbeing are in question!!

Reporting Procedures

1. Gather as much information as possible. Type of Harassment, place, name of individual, etc. If you have witnesses, ask them to accompany you. During the hours it is open, proceed to Convention Registration and report the incident. Registration will contact the Convention Chairman, who along with Convention Security and other Senior Staff members will investigate the situation. If the incident takes place after hours, proceed to Hotel Registration. A Hotel Desk Clerk is on duty 24 hours and during the nighttime hours a Hotel Security Person will be present. They will contact the Convention Chairman and Convention Security, or Police if the need arises. If you feel threatened with harm – call the Hotel front desk and/or 911 to ask for Police Protection.
2. Once the incident has been reported, the Con Chairman and Senior Staff will investigate the incident. They will determine if it was accidental or intentional. They will question both sides and bystanders to determine the path to take. In the lesser cases, a simple Apology and an explanation of what is considered “Ethical Convention Behavior” may be the course. In the worse-case scenario, Membership Badges will be revoked, and the person will be asked to leave the con. In the most Extreme cases, the individual will be Permanently Banned from MarsCon and their name will be given to other local conventions and the Police.

Please help us keep MarsCon a safe and fun environment for everyone. If you feel your actions will be taken in the wrong context, apologize to the individual. If you witness a potential harassment situation, “Safely” try to diffuse it if possible. To successfully ensure the continuation of MarsCon, it will take everyone working together – Hotel, Senior Staff, Staff, and Guests, but most of all our Fans.

From the Senior Staff – Thank You for your Future Cooperation in this endeavor.