Genuine pluralism differs from mere diversity or passive tolerance. It requires transparent policies and practices that protect and encourage dissidents and dissident perspectives, in order to foster active engagement with and discussion of alternative views. Thus, in keeping with its pluralistic mission, the New SPACE commits itself to the following policies. We urge other educational institutions to adopt and implement these or similar pluralism policies. We are currently discussing additional policies, and encourage suggestions from others.
PLURALISM POLICY #1 (adopted February 2005):
NO ARBITRARY TERMINATION
(a) The New SPACE will not terminate its
association with a teacher, organizer, or student without notifying her in
advance that it intends to do so.
(b) Anyone who wishes to challenge her impending termination will be
allowed to, and is encouraged to, present her facts and argument against the
impending action and to answer any charges against her.
(c) Anyone who wishes to challenge her impending termination will be
allowed to, and is encouraged to, present her case in person before the full
New SPACE Organizing Committee.
(d) A termination action requires a majority vote
of the decision-making body.
(e) The New SPACE will not terminate, or propose to terminate, its
association with a teacher, organizer, or student, except on the grounds that
she has acted contrary to its written rules, or in a manner that is
antithetical to its mission statement, or detrimental to its policies or
functioning.
(f) This policy will be prominently posted on the New SPACE website.
PLURALISM POLICY #2 (adopted February 2005):
NO ADULTERATION OF PUBLICITY
(a) The New SPACE does not and will not alter
instructors' course titles or course descriptions, or the titles and
descriptions of speakers' talks – except to fix grammar, spelling, and typos –
without their knowledge and consent.
(b) New SPACE publicity identifies and will continue to identify
instructors and speakers in the manner in which they have asked to be
identified. No changes to their "bios" will be made without
their knowledge and consent, except to fix grammar, spelling, and typos.
(c) Anyone who believes that someone acting on behalf of the New SPACE
has failed to adhere to (a) or (b) is encouraged to contact the New SPACE
Organizing Committee (NSOC) immediately. The NSOC will investigate the
matter promptly and, if the complaint is deemed valid, promptly take corrective
action.
(d) This policy will be prominently posted on the New SPACE
website.
PLURALISM POLICY #3 (adopted April
2005):
NO HARASSMENT
(a) The New SPACE membership and representatives do
not and will not disrupt instructors' classes or speakers' talks by
interrupting and shouting at them, or by any other means, and will not permit
others to do so.
(b) Anyone who believes that someone acting on behalf of the New
SPACE has failed to adhere to (a) is encouraged to contact the New SPACE
Organizing Committee immediately. The organizing committee will
investigate the matter promptly and, if the complaint is deemed valid, promptly
take corrective action.
(c) This policy will be prominently posted on the New SPACE website.
PLURALISM POLICY #4 (adopted April
2005):
OPEN DIALOGUE
(a) In order to help forge real unity among those struggling for
liberation, The New SPACE encourages open dialogue around its aims, mission,
and policies, including contributions from critics.
(b) Accordingly, we will publish contributions from the public on our
website, in a timely manner, together with any response we may wish to make.
(c) We will not publish contributions that are racist, sexist, or
homophobic; that defame individuals; or that engage in redbaiting.
(d) Contributions should be kept brief. We reserve the right to ask
contributors to shorten their contributions before we agree to publish them.
(e) This policy will be prominently posted on the New SPACE website.