Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference Code of Conduct and COVID Policy

From its beginning the MNWC staff has striven to create a diverse and inclusive conference that is welcoming to all. We work to provide attendees of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, with an inclusive, enlivening, and sustaining learning community.

The MNWC community values diversity of perspectives, identities, cultures, experiences and backgrounds. We believe such diversity is essential for hardy dialogue and learning necessary for advancing the art and craft of creative writing. It is our hope that our attendees will work with us to advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We ask that attendees help us make the MNWC a safe and welcoming experience for all committed to learning and teaching the craft of creative writing. To that end, we ask that all attendees, faculty, and staff honor the opinions, perspectives, and feelings of all MNWC community members and commit to maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Attending the conference is a privilege, not a right, and we must earn and maintain that privilege, in part by maintaining a high standard of respectful discourse. MNWC staff has the right and obligation to limit conference participation or expel attendees from conference events if it is deemed that an attendee has engaged in behavior such as hate speech that is racist, sexist, homophobic, or ableist, or has taken any actions in classes, workshops, or readings that are disruptive and/or unsafe. A refund will not be given to any conference attendee asked to leave.

MNWC is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all attendees and will continue to monitor COVID-19. We follow Bemidji State University protocols, which could once again require social distancing and wearing masks indoors while on campus if deemed necessary. Currently, there is no such mandate, and it seems unlikely that there will be by this coming June; but we reserve the right to require all MNWC faculty, staff, and participants to submit proof of vaccination prior to arrival if such action is once again warranted.

By attending the conference, you are affirming that you have read, understand, and agree to the MNWC Code of Conduct and COVID Policy.

If any attendee has questions about the above code of conduct or COVID policy, or needs to report a violation of the code of conduct during the conference, please contact the conference coordinator, Mathew Hawthorne, at writersconference@bemidjistate.edu.