Oceanography | September 2018
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Over the past year, The Oceanography Society Council (https://tos.org/governance)
has been addressing several organizational policy issues. Some of our policies and pro-
cedures needed updating because the Society has grown and matured, and government
agency policies have changed. What was appropriate for a small organization when it was
founded 30 years ago may not be a good fit for today’s larger and growing organization that
is much more diverse.
One particular policy issue that has become very public over the past year relates to pro-
fessional ethics, including issues of sexual harassment. This issue has been in the news fre-
quently, touching many organizations. The Oceanography Society has always been a wel-
coming community that emphasizes open expression and exchange of ideas with equal
opportunity and fair treatment of all, free from all forms of discrimination or harassment.
This policy has long been posted on our website (https://tos.org/about). Fortunately, the
TOS Council is not aware of any problems in this area related to TOS activities; however, it
still is imperative that our written policies express our implicit expectations.
To that end, the TOS Council has developed a much more detailed and stronger policy
that provides clear reporting and enforcement mechanisms for claims of harassment while
participating in TOS-supported professional activities. (Note that the new policies also
address publication ethics.) It is important that participants know that TOS has taken
actions to ensure that its activities are as safe and as welcoming as possible. I would like to
thank the Seattle office of the Fisher Phillips law firm, a group with particular expertise in
workplace law, and Jennifer Freyd of the University of Oregon, a psychologist who special-
izes in the study of harassment, sexual violence, and impacts on individuals and institu-
tions, for providing reviews of this TOS policy at no cost.
This policy review and update has also served as a good reminder that TOS is a member-
run organization in which input is always welcome. Our operations and policies are trans-
parent and responsive to the needs and wishes of our members. Your feedback makes TOS
a stronger organization. Thank you!
Alan C. Mix, TOS President
Policies for a
Member-Run Organization