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The Gaming Lounge exists as a space for all gamers to find joy in gaming no matter their identity, background or experience.

As part of the Center for Student Involvement and the Division of Student Affairs, the Alienware Buffalo Esports and Gaming Lounge values the diverse backgrounds, histories, identities and life experiences of every member of our community. We strive toward inclusive excellence in making our policies, processes and actions socially just and equitable. We celebrate and embrace differences. We are committed to welcoming and including diverse groups and perspectives in building a climate in which all members can thrive in an environment where they feel at home, welcome and safe.

Conduct Guidelines

To ensure the Gaming Lounge remains a positive and inclusive space, guests agree to the following conduct and responsibilities guidelines when in/around the Gaming Lounge.

• All gaming is gaming.
  • All gaming and all gamers are welcome in the lounge and to use its services. Social or solo gaming is valid. Casual or competitive gaming is valid. All genres of games are valid. No one is more or less of a gamer if they are a competitive esports student-athlete or a casual mobile gamer.
• Guests will follow applicable university policies.
  • Guests will follow the directions of Gaming Lounge staff.
    • Concerns about staff can be discussed with the Coordinator for Gaming Programs and/or the Assistant Director of Student Engagement.
  • Guests are subject to the applicable university policies, including but not limited to:
    • Campus Use of University Facilities
    • Acceptable Use of ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ’s IT Resources
    • Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking
    • Discrimination and Harassment
  • Violations of applicable university policy will be reported to the appropriate office, such as Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.
• Treat yourself well.
  • Guests are encouraged to utilize the lounge in balanced ways to maintain holistic wellbeing financially, academically, socially, physically and mentally.
  • Learning to get better at a game can be one of the most rewarding parts of gaming. Be kind as you’re learning the nuances of the game, and it’s OK to be frustrated.
  • Be mindful of your physical wellbeing:
    • Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.
      • Maintain good posture to prevent injury or strain on the body.
    • Every 20 minutes, stretch your hands, wrists, arms, legs, back and other body parts.
• Treat your fellow gamers well.
  • Lounge guests agree to follow the . Guests promise to:
    • Be a good sport whether they win or lose.
    • Know that people online are real people and words have real impact.
    • Set a positive example with their behavior.
    • Speak up against discrimination, hate speech, harassment and abuse.
    • Show integrity by honoring the rules, their opponents and their teammates.
    • Stop, listen and reassess if told that their words or actions are harmful.
    • Respect others, even if others’ sincere opinions are different.
  • Abusive, threatening, discriminatory or prejudicial behavior is not tolerated.
  • Guests come from all backgrounds and hold multiple identities, and those identities will not be utilized as insults (yes, even if guests are joking between friends). This also includes any actions that make guests feel uncomfortable such as stalking or harassment. All incidents and reports of protected-class discrimination, harassment and threats will be reported to Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution or the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.
  • Light banter may happen between teammates and opponents about plays, skills or action in the game. Banter using identities as an insult or targeting individuals’ identities is unacceptable in the Gaming Lounge (even when joking among friends).
  • Expressing disappointment about the outcome of a play, match or game is acceptable. However, shouting at opponents or teammates, excessive cursing, throwing equipment, inflicting physical violence on people or equipment, and other poor-sport behaviors are unacceptable.
  • Cheating, hacking and similar illicit gaming activities are prohibited while using in the Gaming Lounge.
• Treat the equipment well.
  • Food and drink are not allowed in the lounge, except for water which must be kept in a closed container.
  • Guests must dispose of trash and unwanted items in the appropriate bins in the lounge or elsewhere in the UMC.
  • Under no circumstances may any equipment in the Gaming Lounge be hit, thrown, tossed or otherwise intentionally damaged.
  • Equipment (PC, consoles, controllers, PC peripherals) may not be removed from the lounge by guests or those with lounge reservations, unless prior written approval is given by the Coordinator for Gaming Programs and equipment remains under CSI or Gaming Lounge staff supervision.
  • Guests may not utilize plug in personal peripherals, USB charging cords or USB devices (e.g., keyboards, controllers, USB drives, headsets, monitors, PCs, consoles) without prior inspection and approval by the Coordinator for Gaming Programs.
  • Guests may not tamper with, subvert, close or otherwise interfere with the gg.Leap software.
  • Guests may not download or install hardware or software, including but not limited to: games not found on gg.Leap or through the Gaming Lounge, mods/AddOns, save files, other programs or files.
    • Guests may submit requests for new games, mods, software or other programs/files to the Gaming Lounge staff.
  • Guests may be held responsible for repair or replacement costs for damaged or stolen equipment.

Accountability and Consequences

In alignment with the university’s educational mission, the Gaming Lounge will generally extend grace and opportunity for guests to stop, listen and reassess behaviors when violations of the guest conduct guidelines occur. As appropriate, the Gaming Lounge staff will follow the following resolutions steps:

• Conflict between guests can often be resolved without the intervention of Gaming Lounge staff, and guests are encouraged to resolve issues in a civil and respectful manner.
• Gaming Lounge staff will approach guests who are in violation of the guest conduct guidelines, and provide guests an opportunity to stop their behavior, listen to how their behavior is not acceptable, and change their behavior.
• If unacceptable behavior continues, a guest may be asked to leave the Gaming Lounge.
• Guests who repeatedly violate guest conduct guidelines may have their access to the Gaming Lounge temporarily or permanently suspended. Purchases such as game time will not be reimbursed if a guest is suspended from the Gaming Lounge.

While grace is given in most situations, there may be situations so severe that require escalation of the lounge resolution steps.

Organizations with area or full facility reservations are expected to help uphold the guest conduct guidelines for individuals participating in their reservation. Organizations may be held responsible for the conduct of their guests in the Gaming Lounge, including but not limited to: verbal/written warnings, reports to CSI which may impact organization standing, fines for stolen or damaged materials, and/or cancellation and prohibition of future reservations.

Decisions of Gaming Lounge staff may be appealed in writing to the Center for Student Involvement.