CppNorth 2025 Transparency Report

Conference Overview

CppNorth 2025 took place in July, starting with an evening reception July 20^th and continuing through three full days: the 21^st to 23^rd. No complaints or reports were received by the code of conduct team during the onsite event. Shortly after the conference, one organizer received an email describing a situation that left at least one attendee uncomfortable and unhappy. Because the complaint was about a member of the conduct team, it was handled by a reduced team ("the team") that did not include the person who was complained about.

Post-Conference Complaint

At a conference dinner, a wide-ranging conversation generally described as "spicy" and "remarkably open" veered into politics and related conspiracy theories in a way that involved nationalities and religious identities. Some people at the table became uncomfortable and felt the topics were inappropriate. A conduct team member who was present did not redirect the conversation and participated in some of the topics that were "over the line." Our code of conduct forbids, among other things, "harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability" and these comments were not completely harmless or innocuous.

Committee Response

On learning of the uncomfortable attendee(s), the conduct team member expressed both remorse for their actions and an understanding that it can be important to restrain conversations even when most of the people in them seem to be enthusiastic participants. They have also apologized in writing to those at the table. The team feels that if an attendee or speaker who was not an organizer had acted in this manner, the team would have advised the person about how their actions made others feel, and would not have required an apology or statement of understanding about the behaviour. All agree that organizers and conduct team members are held to a higher standard than attendees are. The team has concluded that no further action is necessary and declined the offered resignation from the conduct team member who was the subject of the complaint.