Emma Roney

Personal and Ethical Foundations

Introduction: Personal and Ethical Foundations

The Personal and Ethical Foundations competency combines personal beliefs, the ethics of the practice, as well as the beliefs of institutions. Practitioners must reckon with the sometimes complicated relationship between personal ethics and those of institutions of higher education. This competency concerns developing the skills to discern how to proceed when those beliefs are at odds. These foundations are critical when it comes to understanding our power and role as student affairs professionals regarding ethics and professional conduct. Additionally, there is an emphasis on healthy work-life balance and wellness.

Application of Personal and Ethical Foundations

One component of this competency is articulating key elements of one’s set of personal beliefs and commitments as well as their source. As part of my responsibilities at the Robsham Theater Arts Center, I assist in generating guidelines for student group usage of our main stage, and am in charge of communicating those guidelines. One issue that came up last year was the use of the gendered restrooms in our green room space. Attending Boston College as an undergraduate and then continuing my studies here, I am well aware of the limited perceptions of gender that the institution holds. My director was adamant about students using the appropriate bathrooms and changing spaces in a public setting and wanted to place extra signs over the bathrooms explicitly listing “women” and “men.” The space has no gender-neutral or single-stall restroom and is often used by gender non-conforming students in the theater department and otherwise. Knowing that my director was firm on this, but also holding onto my experience as a queer person, I saw the potential harm in being restrictive about space usage. Here came a moment when my values were challenged and forged deeper. I needed to hold steadfast to loyalty with queer and trans* people within a structure that is steeped in a culture of whiteness and traditional Catholicism, and therefore rigid gender binaries. I convinced my director to abstain from these signs as they may alienate already marginalized members of the community without just cause. This year, I explicitly detailed that students should use the bathroom and changing areas that align with their gender identity. The university does not adopt this language, but I hope that a cultural shift may occur in my small actions and the actions of others on campus.

Progress and Future Growth

Looking forward regarding this competency, I hope to grow resilience in developing and standing by my beliefs as they relate to my professional life and the populations I serve. I plan to maintain work-life boundaries while still advocating and working with students with exuberance and care. As professionals in the higher education world, we actively contribute to systems of oppression. I hold that truth in my practice as well as understanding that there is value in individual good actors working to commit to change. Reflecting on my daily actions at the institutions I work for to ensure they align with my personal values will help me to ensure I am committed to positive change and ethical standards. 

  • Cream background with pink, red, orange and navy abstract objects. Background applies to all slides. Navy text reads RTAC 23-24 Season General Production Meeting.
  • Top left corner text reads 01. Navy header reads General Rules: Communication. It is the responsibility of the organization’s President or Cultural Show Chairperson to communicate all rules and guidelines to their organization. Failure to communicate these rules and guidelines will not result in an exception to the rules and guidelines. –Communication from the Organization should be directed to the RTAC Production Managers (Caitlin Cremins and Emma Roney) The RTAC PMs will direct questions to the appropriate RTAC Staff Member as needed.
  • Top left corner text reads 02. Navy header reads General Rules: Production Meetings. Navy body text reads Groups will have 2 production meetings with RTAC staff prior to their tech week. -Prod Meeting #1 will be scheduled for the end of this semester. -Prod Meeting #2 will be scheduled for early next semester. -Production Meetings will be scheduled using Calendly and will take place on Zoom. -Reports from each production meeting will be sent to all participating parties, including OSI & BAIC advisors. Who attends production meetings? At all meetings: Group Event Coordinator Optional at meetings: Any relevant e-board members.
  • Top left text read 02. Navy header reads General Rules: Space Usage. Two subheadings read Lobby and Green Room/117 Slice. Under lobby, navy text reads -No decorations can be attached by tape, pins, etc in the lobby area. Items can be displayed on easels, which RTAC can provide. -Balloons are not allowed in the auditorium and are generally discouraged. Balloons can be attached to railings by tying. No tape allowed. -Any large item such as a photo banner, photo booth, or table needs to be approved by RTAC (4) weeks prior to your event. If approved, the appropriate location for the item will be indicated. Under Green Room/117 Slice reads -The Green Room/Dressing Room areas are a public space. If your group has access to these areas, please be mindful that there could be other people in these areas. -Your group must clean up after themselves immediately following the performance. All trash needs to be thrown away and personal items must be removed as soon as possible. -At all times, group members are required to use the changing areas/bathrooms/showers that align with their gender identity.
  • op left text read 04. Navy header reads -If your group has “NO GREEN ROOM” access, you are limited to the designated back hallway areas within Robsham. You do not have access to the Green Room, Dressing Room, or Mirror areas. You will have access to the restrooms in the dressing room area. Please inform the RTAC staff of your alternative green room/dressing room location outside of 117 Vanderslice if you have one. -It is your group's responsibility to move performers to/from the RTAC performance area when scheduled. This applies to both the RTAC Green Room/Dressing area as well as alternative Green Room/Dressing Room areas. -There is no nudity allowed in the Green Room or back hallway areas. If you have costume quick changes, you must have a base layer(leotard, tights, top, etc.) on at all times. General Rules: Space Usage. Navy subheader reads Backstage.
  • Orange background. White header reads Strike Policy. White text reads To ensure everyone has a great, safe and respectful environment, there will be a three strike policy in place for student groups participating in this season. Under are three navy X graphics. White text below reads Examples of actions warranting a strike: Adding elements to the show during the performance that have not been teched or approved Disrespecting the theater space (ex. leaving garbage backstage, moving backstage items or hitting the cyc) Deliberately disobeying instructions of student Stage Managers once in tech, dress, or the show. You will be notified if a strike is recorded for your group. Three strikes will render your group ineligible to host a show with RTAC in the next academic year.
  • Top right corner, navy text reads 05. Navy header reads Technical Aspects: Staff. A graph detailing the organizational chart begins with navy text that reads RTAC Staff. In this row are four orange boxes with navy text, reading Emma Roney Production Manager, Cait Cremins, Production Manager, George Cooke, Technical Director, Ellen McDonald, Box Office Manager. Brancing out below George Cooke are two pale pink boxes. One has a yellow star at the top left and reads Stage Manager. The other reads lighting designer. In the adjacent row are pale pink boxes that read Student PM and House Manager. Under the Stage Manager are two orange boxes that both read Assistant Stage Manager. Under house manager, 4 orange boxes each read Usher/ Under ellen McDonald at the same level as Usher are two orange boxes that read Box Office Assistant.
  • Top right corner reads 06. Navy header reads Technical Aspects. Navy text below reads Your RTAC Stage Manager and Staff are responsible for the safety of the patrons and performers. In the event of an emergency or other event that impacts the show, the directions of the RTAC Stage Manager and Staff must be followed. -Show order changes and adjustments, once the show order form has been submitted, are not permitted without the approval of the RTAC Stage Manager. In the event that a performer is late or not prepared for their performance slot, the RTAC Stage Manager’s decision on how to proceed will be adhered to. -All elements of your performance need to have a technical or dress rehearsal in order to be incorporated into the show. Adding performance elements after tech or dress rehearsals will not be permitted.
  • Top right corner reads 07. Navy header reads Technical Aspects. Navy text below reads There will be no technical elements provided for on-stage skits (microphones, light or sound cues) aside from standard lighting. -In general, we encourage simplicity. Think about your programming: what works well? What doesn't? Tech schedules are a bit tighter this year, so keep it manageable and intentional. -All props must be approved by (2) weeks prior to your performance. This includes hand props, set elements, tables, and chairs. -There is no glitter or confetti permitted.
  • op right corner reads 07. Navy header reads Tech/Dress Schedules. Navy text below reads Production Managers and Stage Managers will work with you to generate a tech schedule and dress rehearsal schedule that aligns with the needs of the technical staff and your groups. RTAC Stage Managers have final approval of the tech schedule. For evening tech rehearsals, access to the theater is 6:30 pm. The rehearsal will run from 7-11p and there will be a 20 minute break(no one on stage) from 9-9:20pm. For Sat shows, access will be at 1:30pm, your technical rehearsal will run from 2-6p and there will be a 20m break(no one on stage) from 4-4:20p.
  • Top left corner reads 09. Navy header reads Ticketing & Comps. Navy body text reads RTAC ticket form must be completed 4 weeks prior to your performance date(s) -https://fs8.formsite.com/RTAC/RTACTicketingRequest/index.html -Our box office manager, Ellen, will contact you after this for a ticketing meeting. -All ticket prices must be compliant with SOFC rules if you use them to fund any portion of your show. –A maximum of 50 seats may be reserved for performers. Transitions may be made during breaks between songs.
  • Orange background. White headings read Production Meeting #1, #2, and Post-Prod Meeting. Under Production Meeting #1 white text reads Discuss plans for show Overview your specific schedule Deadlines Address any questions the group may have. Under production meeting #2, white text reads Solidify technical schedule Meet Stage Manager Confirm all elements and review prior due dates Ticket overview Any remaining questions. Under post-prod meeting reads Review experience.
  • top left corner reads 12. Navy header reads We are here to help! Text below reads thank you for attending! We will follow up with an email regarding your first group production meetings.