What Colleges and Associations Have Done to Combat Harassment

Recent actions by departments and scholarly groups to try to end sexual harassment:

American Astronomical Society: Agreed with organizers of an after-hours bar bash traditionally held during the society’s annual meeting to eliminate the event. At the society’s meeting last summer, its president described in a speech what it felt like to be a young woman at the meeting getting romantic attention instead of intellectual attention. She told fellow astronomers: “You are not here to find a date.”

American Philosophical Association: At an annual meeting in January, each attendee at the key reception was offered two drink tickets instead of access to an open bar.

American Geophysical Union: Two dozen staff members wore “Safe AGU” buttons at its annual meeting, in December, and encouraged attendees to report problems, including sexual harassment.

Philosophy department at the University of Colorado at Boulder: Replaced a faculty/student mountain retreat with more family-friendly activities.

Philosophy department at New York University: Adopted rules on how people should behave with one another in formal settings.

Robin Wilson writes about campus culture, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. Contact her at robin.wilson@chronicle.com.