Villanova Theatre Community Agreements and Code of Conduct

This evolving document has been adopted and adapted from the amazing work undertaken by Speak Up, Rise Up. Please consider supporting their work by making a donation here.

Everyone participating in Villanova Theatre Department productions is expected to abide by the following code of conduct. This includes all performers, audience members, crew, staff, and volunteers. We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of identified gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, immigration status or religious beliefs. We will abide by this code during all departmental events. As theatre artists, we are here to listen to one another, to laugh with one another, and to enjoy artistic expression and performance.

Our Community Agreements

To ensure all members of our community are respected, we agree

  •  To treat everyone - including performers, audience members, crew, staff, and volunteers - with respect, whether in the audience, on stage, behind the stage, at the concession stand, or at the front door.
  • To laugh when we find something humorous, cry when we are moved to tears, and affirm feeling vulnerable.
  • To create and maintain a space that is open, honest, and real.
  • To celebrate one another and to provide encouragement.
  • To endeavor to provide appropriate content advisories for our audiences.
  • To reject and speak out against any discrimination, demeaning behavior, or harassment against any of our community members. This includes, but is not limited to ageist, ableist, classist, homophobic, nativist, racist, religist, sexist, or transphobic language.

What Don’t We Do At Villanova Theatre?

We do not tolerate discrimination, demeaning behavior or speech, or harassment. What do we consider harassment and unacceptable within our community? Glad you asked.

  • Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
  • Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, class, immigrant status, or disability.
  • Posting or displaying sexually explicit, violent, or discriminatory material (e.g. comments on social media).
  • Violating another's privacy, including posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“doxxing”).
  • Stalking, following, or harassing photography/recording.
  • Inappropriate physical contact (always secure someone’s consent before touching them).
  • Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes, sexualized comments or jokes; inappropriate touching, groping, and unwelcome sexual advances.
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following (online, or in person).
  • Sustained disruption of events.
  • Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Exception: During the course of a performance or event, controversial content or subject matter may arise. Discussion or images related to sex, discriminatory language, or similar is permitted if it meets all of the following criteria:

    • It is the personal sharing of the artist, performer, or presenter.
    • It is presented in a respectful manner and is essential to the realization of the performance.

How to Report a Community Agreement and Code of Conduct Violation

If you require emergency assistance, please contact Villanova University Public Safety which operates 24/7/365.

  • Emergency: 610-519-4444 | Non-Emergency: 610-519-5800 | Online Crime Reporting: Click here

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please share your experience with Department Chair Valerie Joyce, Artistic Director Michael Hollinger, Business Manager Elisa Hibbs, or Interim Production Manager Amanda Coffin immediately. If you are unable to reach one of them easily, you may also go to the Box Office or Academic Office and ask a Villanova Theatre staffer to assist you in contacting them.

We appreciate your concerns and are committed to improving and expanding our diversity and inclusion efforts at Villanova. In order to better address your concerns, we ask that you please fill out the following university bias incident form, so we have a better idea of how to assist you. A member of the Campus Climate Resource Network will respond to you shortly (usually in 48 hours or less) regarding the information you submitted in your report.

If you can’t or don’t wish to speak in person, or prefer to talk privately or communicate electronically to a third party, you may also submit an electronic report via the university's third party reporting system, Ethics Point. All reports will be handled in the strictest confidence.

What Will Happen in the Case of a Violation?

Participants asked by Villanova Theatre staff or a fellow participant to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in any of the aforementioned behavior and it is reported, Villanova Theatre staff may take any action we deem appropriate, from warning the offender, to immediately expelling the offender with no refund, to banning them from future attendance.

Take Care of Yourself; Take Care of Each Other

Use your discretion and the available content advisories when making a decision whether or not to attend plays and events.

Take advantage of the mental health resources available on campus through the University Counseling Center. Call 610-519-4050 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to schedule an appointment (free of charge for current students). Online resources through ULifeline are also available here.

We will lead from these values and encourage all members of our community to speak up against injustice and engage in compassionate dialogue in order to dismantle systems of bias, discrimination, and oppression.