The Association for Jewish Studies Office on Sexual Misconduct (OSM), which grew out of the AJS Sexual Misconduct Task Force established in 2018, is designed to address complaints of sexual misconduct and is available to AJS members and affiliates as defined in the AJS Sexual Misconduct Procedures. The Office constitutes an accessible and trained body that can answer inquiries, provide information about its procedures, facilitate the resolution of informal complaints, and fairly and expeditiously hear formal complaints of sexual misconduct.
The Office on Sexual Misconduct consists of a chair; a secretary; a team of up to 6 Ombuds who can be contacted to answer inquiries, provide information about the AJS’s sexual misconduct policy and procedures, receive a report of an incident, and handle informal complaints; and a group of up to 12 Core Members who do not answer inquires, provide information, or receive reports of incidents, but are trained and available to hear formal complaints. The Office on Sexual Misconduct members are drawn from the broader AJS membership. All OSM members are volunteers trained in the protocols for maintaining confidentiality and observe strict confidentiality with respect to all information they receive about a case.
The AJS values ethical conduct in all aspects of Jewish Studies scholarship (including but not limited to research, publishing, peer reviews, teaching, advising, mentoring, and conference participation) and seeks to maintain a professional, collegial, and non-threatening environment for its members and staff in all of its programs and activities.
The AJS is committed to eliminating barriers to full participation in the rights and privileges of membership based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, ability, and employment status.
The following statement establishes expectations regarding conduct at the AJS Annual Conference and appears annually in the conference program materials:
In order to maintain a professional and comfortable environment for its members, conference registrants, and staff, the association requires certain standards of behavior. These standards include, without limitation, courtesy of discourse, respect for the diversity of AJS members and conference attendees, and the ability to conduct AJS business and participate in the AJS conference in a nonthreatening, collegial atmosphere. AJS members and conference participants who do not uphold these standards may jeopardize their membership or conference participation.
Members with concerns or questions about any form of bias, misconduct and/or discrimination in connection with the Conference or any other AJS program or activity are encouraged to contact the Executive Director, Warren Hoffman, or the current AJS President.
The Association of Jewish Studies does not fall within the reach of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Complaints of sexual misconduct in connection with AJS programs and activities are handled in accordance with the Association’s board-approved policies and procedures.
Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to your institution’s Title IX Coordinator, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617-289-0111, Fax: 617-289-0150, TDD: 800-877-8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.
Further information on Title IX, the roles and responsibilities of Title IX co-ordinators, mandatory reporting, and related matters can be found here.
