Thread by @DrKillgrove

Good morning, folks still following the #SAA2019 debacle. Some new info has just come in, so here's another mini-thread... (1/n)

Two of the #MeToo survivors who left #SAA2019 due to @SAAorg's failure to kick out David Yesner (who had been banned from UAA campus and the Alaska Anthro Assoc) have confirmed that they've had their registration fee refunded by SAA. (2/n)

And I also got second-hand information from an anonymous Board member that they are muzzled due to the SAA's lawyer. The lawyer has insisted that if the Board talks, they could compromise their Board insurance and open themselves up to personal liability. (3/n)

The SAA's lawyer is clearly worried that the org will be sued, presumably by the survivors and/or their university. And the lawyer is cowing the Board into silence. (4/n)

The anonymous member also suggested that SAA had hired a crisis PR consultant who, in concert with the lawyer, penned and sent out the now-deleted tweets that were ratioed and riled up social media. (5/n)

The Board, including Joe, is being told that the social media response is essentially irrelevant and that it's "basically just a handful of disgruntled grad students." I'm guessing it's the lawyer/PR person who blocked me and others. (6/n)

Since the majority of the Board is not on social media, they weren't aware of what happened while it was happening. But now that @archaeoliz has crowd-sourced events and I've summarized them as well, there's a larger understanding among the Board of the seriousness of this. (7/n)

But the Board is still not empowered to act or talk. Except Joe. And all of them sound like they're terrified of the lawyer. Which means the lawyer and SAA staff are running @SAAorg now. (8/n)

It's not surprising. I mean, in my experience as a (former) committee chair, ideas we ran by SAA staff were always rejected because of nebulous legal reasons. So SAA has always been run by staff and legal, not members or the Board. (9/n)

I think this is incredibly problematic. And that we need to take back @SAAorg. As members, we have the power to push for change. That's why I'm still here and still making noise: so that we can force the SAA to listen and change. (10/n)

A number of us are currently working on a referendum. It requires 10% of the voting membership (paid members) to sign on. We are simply asking SAA to adopt the language of the AAA in sanctioning harassers. (11/n)

With 10% signatures, per the bylaws, the referendum HAS to be sent to the membership as a whole. The Board is required to do this, and a vote will be held. It's a way of signaling change and holding @SAAorg to account. (12/n)

When that referendum is ready, I will link to it & encourage everyone to sign & forward to others they think will sign. Follow me & watch this space for a link to the signature form! We can do this -- we can remind @SAAorg that they work for us, not the other way around! (13/n)

@SAAorg Here you go: a referendum on harassment and membership for @SAAorg members. If you are a current member & support this cause, please fill in your name, email address, & SAA Member ID (found at saa. org).

LET'S DO THIS! 🤠✍️

forms.gle/ratFVC6KnauqPH…

(14/14) #SAA2019

@SAAorg Thanks go to @heatherwalder, @tinysapien, @ArchaeoMapper, @aejolene, @Northernsirena, @bones_canada, @kbiittner, and @valeriebondura for putting together this referendum! I'm honored to be part of this amazing team working to push @SAAorg for change in light of #SAA2019.

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura I posted this request for signatures on a petition to @SAAorg not even an hour ago, and we're already up to a full 1% of the membership! KEEP IT UP! Please forward the form to your colleagues and students, & anyone not on social media. #SAA2019

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura People are already commenting on the petition to the SAA as they sign it. One signatory explained their participation by writing, "The SAA needs to address this issue in a direct and responsible manner." #SAA2019

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura Another commented that "I believe this must be done at minimum if the society is to continue existing."

Tons of support already for this petition to the @SAAorg. But we need you to keep sharing and signing! We're still a ways from 10%. #SAA2019 #MeToo

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura "Actions so far from the organization have been disrespectful to the needs and concerns of members and reflect poor decision making," one @SAAorg member said in signing the petition. #SAA2019

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura When this gauge gets to 100%, that means we have enough signatures to forward our petition to the @SAAorg Board of Directors. And they HAVE to send it out for a vote per our bylaws. This is an AMAZING start and shows the power of social media. #SAA2019

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

@SAAorg @heatherwalder @tinysapien @ArchaeoMapper @aejolene @Northernsirena @bones_canada @kbiittner @ValerieBondura And we're up to 20% since posting this petition this morning! Be like @FraserNeiman, who signed because of what he called "bone-headed moves of the @SAAorg", and sign this petition! #SAA2019

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

I forgot to post in my earlier thread that SAA is bound by Title IX due to acceptance of government support. Joe’s email suggested harassment training would be optional; but it’s mandatory. If SAA staff have had none, this is already a violation.

Alright, before I go to sleep, I wanted to update y'all on the #SAA2019 referendum progress. We're up to 45% of the signatures we need! Pretty decent for the first day. Will send out more emails and post the link again tomorrow.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…