Friday, May 25, 2018

Open Letter to FanX

We, attendees and participants of FanX, ask that the organization address our concerns. Like many fans of the conference, we are deeply concerned about the mishandling of the sexual harassment report and dismissive stance from the co-founders. While we appreciate that steps are being taken to rebuild trust within the community, our confidence in the current harassment policy and in the organization's resolution to enforce this policy has been damaged. We ask that you hear and address the following breaches of confidence. We are all accountable to the public, each other, and ourselves.

One: In a public statement, and without disclosing her name, apologize to the victim who filed the sexual harassment report for disclosing their private report to the media without their knowledge or consent. Admit that the victim's trust was violated, and promise future attendees who may report incidents that they will never undergo the same scrutiny or mishandling. Assure everyone that all reports will be heard, evaluated, and confidential. Keep the victims’ names confidential at all times.

Two: Hire a professional with experience writing, implementing, and upholding sexual harassment policies. Clarify the consequences for breaking the policy and reiterate that those consequences will be upheld. Removal and banishment from the conference should be among those ramifications.

Three: Address harassment complaints quickly. The past complaint was filed in October, and the complaint was not investigated until January. This shows a lack of concern and a reluctance to address the situation, as well as disregard for the seriousness of the issue.

Four: Recognize that trust is earned not through words, policies, and statements, but by a proven track record of implementation and action over time.

Our concern for the organization’s mishandling of this report has never been centered upon taking offense. Our fight has always come from a well-meaning place of making the convention safe for everyone involved. This can only happen if harassment is taken seriously. 

To rebuild trust and support, we suggest that the organization devote their attention to these outstanding issues. It is our hope that we may unite together against sexual harassment and provide a safe environment for our family and friends. Please receive this list of recommendations in the spirit it is given, with care and concern for all FanX employees, volunteers, guests, and attendees.

Sincerely,

Robison Wells
Shannon Hale
Bree Despain
Emily R. King
Ally Condie
Dean Hale

Co-Signed by:

Brandon Sanderson
Maureen Johnson
Dan Wells
Howard Tayler
Annette Lyon
Mette Harrison
J. R. Johansson
Jessica Day George
Courtney Alameda
Lindsey Leavitt
Sarah M. Eden 

[We encourage all authors/artists/panelists/guests/celebrities/cosplayers/attendees to co-sign by leaving a comment below.]


212 comments:

  1. We encourage you to co-sign here in the comments. Signed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cosigned. I've enjoyed my time as a panelist at FanX over the last several years and am saddened to have had to sever ties over the failure to address sexual harassment within its walls. Though, not as sad as I am that it happened in the first place. The Utah community, and all communities, deserve better than the convention leadership has given. The above letter outlines reasonable guidelines for addressing the problems within the organization. It's the very least that should be done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Co-signed. I attend SLCC/FanX every year, but I will go shopping for another convention if things do not significantly improve.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Co-signed. I will be skipping FanX this year for the first time in years.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I ensthusiastically co-sign. I've been a panelist for the past few years but resigned from the Super Secret Group yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Co-signed by Jared Garrett. Thank you to everyone for being relentless.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Co-Signed, Sarah Hanisko, Ph.D.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Co-signed!! Everyone make sure to share the link and spread the word!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Co-signed, Alex Gilbert

    ReplyDelete
  10. Co-signed Sadie Knowlton

    ReplyDelete
  11. I recommend you go research the Channel Awesome situation that happened on twitter about 2 months ago. It's a very similar situation and even though Salt Lake FanX obviously handled everything far from perfectly, they did a way better job of responding eventually than Channel Awesome. We all know the initial response from fanX was not good.I will co-sign this with the caveat that I support harassment victims and FanX should have done a better job, but I also have accepted FanX's apology. In fact they have already announced how they are going to do things better. Their outline includes many of the things you're demanding in your letter. It proves they have already started trying to do and be better. We won't know until the event in September happens whether the changes worked or not. I believe that they will do right by everyone.

    Co-sign, Robert Ryan Bramwell

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We also accept FanX's apology and appreciate their efforts for change. We understand that trust takes time to rebuild. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ryan, and for co-signing and standing with the victims.

      Delete
  12. Co-Signed, Justus Page

    ReplyDelete
  13. Co-signed Renna Mira.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Co-signed, Rebecca C. Maryfield

    ReplyDelete
  15. Co signed Chantryce Diehl

    ReplyDelete
  16. Co-signed Meg Thunell with thanks to all the authors for their work

    ReplyDelete
  17. co-signed: Mercedes Roberts

    ReplyDelete
  18. Susan Christensen-LambMay 25, 2018 at 5:12 PM

    Co-signed: Susan Christensen-Lamb

    ReplyDelete
  19. Co-signed. I've always enjoyed these conventions as a safe space for geeky fun. To hear that others are being treated this way makes me very upset. I can't continue to contribute to a group that allows things like this to continue and won't be participating as a panelist or attendee this year.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Co-signed, Rebecca Sachiko Burton

    ReplyDelete
  21. Co-signed, Keri Wright

    ReplyDelete
  22. Co-signed Brick Despain

    ReplyDelete
  23. Signed, Melanie Jacobson.

    Time to get it right.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Co-signed Callie Stoker. Thank you for the opportunity to support these shared concerns.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Co-signed: Stephanie Anderton

    ReplyDelete
  26. SIGNED! Ilima Todd

    ReplyDelete
  27. Co-signed: Ishta Mercurio, author.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Co-signed! Thanks for everything you guys are doing. (If I signed twice, ignore, I couldn't tell if it took the first time!)

    ReplyDelete
  29. co signed: Sarah Darer Littman Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm not in Utah so I haven't ever been to FanX so feel free to delete, butI wanted to support you all. Co-signed Braden Bell

    ReplyDelete
  31. Co-signed Jessica Parker

    ReplyDelete
  32. Cosigned, Corrie Watkins

    ReplyDelete
  33. Co-signed Sydnie Schoepf

    This is an important issue that cannot be ignored or pushed under the rug - implement change to make things right.
    The right way and the easy way are rarely the same path, but it doesn’t change which path you should take.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I had to go offline for a few days but I’m in. Co-signed Lindsey Leavitt

    ReplyDelete
  35. Co-signed, Lenka Vodicka-Paredes

    ReplyDelete
  36. Co-signed, the likes of Lucas Ackley

    ReplyDelete
  37. and fire Randall Lloyd.
    co-signed, Ariel J Benham

    ReplyDelete
  38. Co-signed, Sydnie Brewster

    ReplyDelete
  39. Co-signed, Wendy Jessen

    I thought I signed yesterday, but I can't find it! We must do better at protecting the innocent and standing against inappropriate, damaging behavior.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Co-signed Liz Lowham

    ReplyDelete
  41. Co-signed: Paul D. Eden. I will not go to the con until this is addressed sufficiently.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Cosigned Anna Marasco. I am not attending the con until these concerns are appropriately addressed.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Co-signed Cameron A. McCrorie

    ReplyDelete
  44. Co-signed, still going this year as I believe things are going in the right direction, but I feel it’s important for these concerns to be addressed and made more clear how these situations will be handled in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Cosign.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Co-signed. -Erika

    ReplyDelete
  47. As a loyal con attendee who purchased tickets back in November I'm not sure I will be making use of those tickets. FanX's response or lack thereof is completely unacceptable.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Co-signed Brekke Felt (for the second time, Not seeing my original sign.)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Co-Signed: Charlie Pulsipher

    It is time for change.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Co-signed, Guilherme Selau Ribeiro.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Co-signed (with optimism that FanX will take positive action and become a model for other conventions), Michael De Groote

    ReplyDelete
  52. Earlier, a discussion was started by Joe Vasicek, and continued by Sarah Seeley and SyvSekstini. While we do not want to silence dissent, we'd like the comments of this Open Letter to be signatures of co-signers.

    As we do think discussion is healthy, that conversation has been moved in its entirety to https://www.robisoncollective.com/2018/05/30/richard-paul-evans-fanx-harassment-timeline/

    Thank you. If you would like to continue the discussion, or follow that discussion, please do so over there.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Co-signed: Kari Keone

    ReplyDelete
  54. Brendon G BrackettMay 31, 2018 at 4:47 PM

    Co signed

    ReplyDelete
  55. Co-signed, Melissa Black

    Doing this saddens me because I’ve enjoyed attending every SLCC/FanX, but I feel this needs to be addressed.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Co-signed, Colt Farmer

    ReplyDelete
  57. Co-signed, Derek Tucker

    ReplyDelete
  58. Co-signed, Melissa Madden

    ReplyDelete
  59. As a Survivor of childhood and adult abuse it's important to me that we stand for our Brothers and Sisters who may not be able to stand for themselves.

    Cosigned,
    S.T.H
    San Diego Ca.
    6/5/2018

    ReplyDelete
  60. Co-Signed, D.R. Leto

    ReplyDelete
  61. Co-signed, Spencer Perkins
    Orem, UT

    ReplyDelete
  62. Co-signed Matthew McCallum
    Sexual harassment against anyone is terrible and I hope FanX addresses their response to any allegations filed.

    ReplyDelete
  63. https://www.fanxsaltlake.com/blog/a-note/

    ReplyDelete