FAQs Miscellaneous
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We will request dietary restriction information on the registration form. If you believe your dietary needs are unusual, please contact us and we will work to accommodate you (CUWIP@tcu.edu).
What should I wear to the conference?
The conference has no dress code, and we encourage students to be comfortable. There will be a plated banquet on Saturday evening, and many students enjoy dressing up for this event. You may wish to look at photos of previous conferences to see what students typically wear. There will be some walking from the hotel to campus and around campus, so good walking shoes are recommended. The weather in Texas can vary wildly in January, from freezing temperatures to highs in the 80s. Please check the weather forecast before you come and bring appropriate clothing.
Will there be resources available for attendees with disabilities?
We will request information on disability status on the registration form. Please contact us at CUWIP@tcu.edu in advance if you have unusual requirements, and we will work to accommodate you.
What are the guidelines for posters and talks?
Please see our poster presentation guidelines for more information.
Can I connect with those going to the conference before arriving ?
Yes! We have set up a Facebook/Twitter page.
I have anxiety, depression, etc, and I am worried about attending this conference. What should I do?
Please contact us if you are comfortable so we are aware (CUWIP@tcu.edu) We will encourage you to try your best during the networking opportunities, but if you need to be paired up with someone you know (either in rooming or meals), please let us know so we can try to accommodate you. We hope that you will be able to comfortably attend the conference and get something from it, but we understand that everyone needs to go at their own pace. We plan to have a quiet room set aside for mentoring and/or mental breaks and there are lounges near the conference meeting rooms where students can take a break.
What if I need child care?
We are unable to provide child care for this conference.
What are gender pronouns?
A gender pronoun is the pronoun that a person chooses to use for themselves. For example, if Xena’s preferred pronouns are she, her, and hers, you could say “Xena ate her food because she was hungry.” She, her, hers and he, him, his are common examples of pronouns. Some people call these “female/feminine” and “male/masculine” pronouns, but many avoid these labels because, for example, not everyone who uses he feels like a “male” or “masculine.”
There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear:* They, them, theirs (Xena ate their food because they were hungry.) This is a pretty common gender-neutral pronoun…. And yes, it can in fact be used in the singular.
* Ze, hir (Xena ate hir food because ze was hungry.)
Ze is pronounced like “zee” can also be spelled zie or xe, and replaces she/he/they. Hir is pronounced like “here” and replaces her/hers/him/his/they/theirs.
* Just my name please! (Xena ate Xena’s food because Xena was hungry) Some people prefer not to use pronouns at all, using their name as a pronoun instead.
* Never, ever refer to a person as “it” or “he-she” (unless they specifically ask you to.) These are often used as offensive slurs.
Why does CUWiP ask for my preferred pronouns? Why should I consider putting them on my name badge?
CUWiP seeks to be a safe space for all participants. By asking for preferred pronouns, we are ensuring that we don’t accidentally misgender any of our participants or make harmful assumptions based on appearance. Even if you have never considered this in relation to yourself, by including your preferred pronouns on your name badge you can help to make other CUWiP participants comfortable. We hope you will consider this.