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Equity Briefing

Presented by the 2025 BP Nationals Equity Team

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Equity Contact Info:

Laiba Nasir (she/her)

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    • Contact Info:
      • (403)-835-3557
      • discord: vibewithlaib
    • Equity form:
      • https://forms.gle/Txam6dqyZ121DAE77

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    • Equity in this context, most closely refers to fairness and justice
    • Equity exists to create an accessible, safe and enjoyable environment for all participants at this tournament
    • Our goal: to outline behaviours that are unacceptable
      • If these situations do occur, the equity team is here to address the situation in an appropriate manner, taking into account the situation at hand and ensuring that the issue is resolved in a fair and timely manner

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What is equity? Why do we need it?

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    • Refrain from using offensive behaviour or language, before, after or during the round
    • Refrain from harassment, threats or intimidation
    • Avoid using generalizations (about a specific group of people or in general)

General Equity Guidelines

    • Anything that is likely to make others uncomfortable
      • Make sure to provide trigger warnings if you think that you will talk about potentially sensitive topics

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Transition from Online to In-Person

    • Remember everyone can hear the comments you make to your partner
    • Don't abuse your right to POI by doing it in short intervals
    • Remember to be patient and polite

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Pronoun Policy

    • Respect other's preferred pronouns
    • Before starting the debate round, everyone should have a chance to share their preferred pronouns if they wish
      • It's encouraged to refer to debaters as their speaker position
    • If you make a mistake, apologize and move forward

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Bias

    • Specifically for judges, sometimes there is unconscious bias surrounding an individual
      • Accent bias
      • Personal bias

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Assorted Policies

    • Speeches may only be recorded if the speaker gives absolute verbal consent
    • Do not purposefully have distracting behaviours during your opponents speech
    • Remember people can see you
    • If you feel uncomfortable with something, contact me, the closest member of ORGCOMM you can find, a volunteer or your coach

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Submitting an Equity Report

    • Form can be found on Linktree
    • Information the form asks:
      • Name (optional)
      • Room number of incident (if applicable)
      • Concern itself
      • Who was involved in the incident?
    • My contact info is on there as well
  • Generally encourage it to be done by coaches/ supervising adults

What measures would you like taken?

  • GA announcement about specific kinds of behaviours
  • Chat w/ those involved in the incidents (+ coaches if needed)
  • An apology
  • Other (specify on form)
  • Confidentiality
    • Information will be shared on a need to know basis
    • Equity only works when there is no stigma associated with filing a complaint

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That's It!

Good luck everyone!