(Credit to Youtopia for these examples of consent culture)

• Informing people about what’s in food or drinks so they can make educated decisions about consumption and avoid unwanted drug experiences, prevent allergic reactions, and adhere to dietary preferences
• Respecting a “no” and giving people space if they don’t reciprocate
• Asking before touching - yes, this includes hugging
• Asking before taking photos and video - especially of minors
• Asking before posting content with or about other people on social media
• Not defacing art or property unless it is clear that was the artist’s intention
• Asking before misting (spraying water on) someone
• Obtaining an explicit “yes” before spanking that booty
• Allowing people to opt out of pranks

What To Do When These Tenets are Violated

Unfortunately, there is a possibility that your boundaries as provided for in Santa Cruz Burner consent culture have been violated while at unSCruz or a Santa Cruz Burners event.  These conflicts always involve one (and occasionally more) other person whose behavior is not aligned with the tenets of Santa Cruz Burner Community Conduct, especially with regard to consent.

Self-reliance

To the extent possible, the first response to such a violation is to harness your power of self-reliance to address the issue directly with the person engaging in the behavior. In most situations, the issue is quickly resolved, and in many cases, this conversation leads to new acquaintances and friendships.

By way of example, common situations include:

• The person is new to the community and not aware of the culture. The person appreciates your willingness to take the time to bring them up to speed
• The person comes from a culture with other norms, and disagrees with Santa Cruz Burner Culture. The person can be made aware that “inclusion” does not mean no limits, and in the case of value conflicts, needs to refrain from behavior that is in violation of community tenets while they are at the event.
• The person feels they are already a “Burner” or informed by their association with festivals in general, and feels they are in the right. In this case, it helps to clarify that Santa Cruz Burner community is not the same thing as Burning Man or festivals, and to draw in event staff to help clarify community tenets.

Support Staff

If, despite your best efforts, you are caught up in a conflict that you cannot resolve on your own, please reach out to attending event staff like a Ranger, Emergency Medical Services, and/or Security, volunteer, or organizer onsite for immediate assistance.

Incident Report

If you are unable to reach a resolution with event staff, you may raise this issue for support after the event, by filling out an Incident Report Form. This form is submitted to the Conduct and Consent Committee of the Santa Cruz Burners for consideration.

The Role of the Conduct and Consent Committee (CCC)

The CCC follows an investigatory procedure to gather enough information to be able to make fair and reasonable recommendations to the Santa Cruz Burners Board of Directors. The recommendations will focus on whether to allow someone continued access to events sanctioned by Santa Cruz Burners, both as an attendee, volunteer, and/or staff. The CCC will only review cases that happen within the perimeter of sanctioned Santa Cruz Burners event with one exception: Santa Cruz Burners will consider investigating your case if you provide a police report or a restraining order that describes the relevance of the Santa Cruz Burners event to the incident you are reporting.

Confidentiality Policy

It is the policy of the CCC to protect the confidentiality and privacy of everyone involved in CCC investigations. The CCC holds confidential all personally identifying information, communications and observations made by, between or about participants, including the identity of the reporter, unless either (1) the person providing the confidential information consents to the information being shared or (2) there is no way to discuss the allegation with the subject of a report or with identified witnesses, without disclosing information which could lead to the identification of the person disclosing the confidential information. While a case is being investigated, the CCC will strive to maintain the anonymity of the reporter, but cannot guarantee it. 

In some instances, a reporter may provide information to the CCC about another person, but not want that other person or persons to be contacted. In this ethically charged situation, the CCC is prevented from gathering the necessary information, and cannot make a recommendation to the Santa Cruz Burners Board of Directors. The CCC will retain the information, and may contact the reporter in the future if there is a development that affects the case. 

For more information or clarification, send us an email: ccc@santacruzburners.org.

Timeline

For each case under consideration, the CCC endeavors to hear multiple perspectives. CCC investigators are volunteers who often have busy schedules, just like the witnesses and others with whom they interact to reach their recommendation. To reach a sufficient understanding, these conversations may take several months. If you are interacting with the CCC (as a reporter, subject of a report, or witness), you can help keep the process moving by responding to emails from investigators in a timely fashion. Reporters are welcome to check in with investigators about the status of the report.

Typical Step-by-Step Procedure

• When the Incident Report is submitted, the CCC is automatically notified of the report.
• The CCC will contact the reporter to verify the content and suggest two investigators, then assign them after confirming that they are acceptable to the reporter.
• The investigators review what has been reported and contact the reporter to gather further information. The investigators explain possible next steps and possible outcomes to the reporter.
• If the reporter requests an inquiry, the investigators will proceed to talk with witnesses and with the subject of the report.
• Investigators may also consult with character witnesses such as producers of other festivals or events, and follow up any leads of similar behaviors to establish if there is a larger pattern.
• Investigators bring the results of their investigation back to the CCC.
• The CCC recommends action(s) to the Santa Cruz Burners board such as:
  • Archiving the information and recommend no action
  • Providing an official warning
  • Barring a participant from volunteering in particular capacities or in any capacity
  • Banning a participant from Santa Cruz Burner events for some duration or permanently
• Upon receiving a recommendation, the Santa Cruz Burners board may:
  • Accept the recommendation
  • Request further detail or additional investigation
  • Pursue a different course of action
• The Santa Cruz Burners board will communicate their decision to the reporter and the subject of the report.
• The Santa Cruz Burners board determines whether any announcements to the Santa Cruz Burners community, other festivals, or to the public are necessary to preserve the health and safety of the community at large.