The purpose of the ARI® Discussion Groups is to provide young readers with an opportunity to explore Ayn Rand’s core nonfiction works through focused, in-depth discussion, guided by a teaching assistant at The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). Before you participate, please take the time to read the following policies, the Acknowledgment of ARI® Discussion Group Policies and Release Agreement, and the Parental Consent Agreement for participants under the age of 18. If applicable, please submit your signed Parental Consent Agreement to jminjarez@aynrand.org prior to the first session. We look forward to your participation in the group!

Confidentiality Requirement

We maintain a policy of confidentiality for all sessions/discussions. This is done to provide an environment in which you and your fellow participants can be (and feel) comfortable engaging in discussion, asking all types of questions and being completely open about your level of understanding and views of the topics under discussion.

This confidentiality requirement means that participants may not share any personal information about other participants (including their views and ideas) with anyone outside of the discussion group. This requirement includes recordings and Discord conversations; anything else which would reveal details about the specific content of group discussions; and the personal information and views/input of participants and ARI staff. 

If you are ever unclear about what is or is not permitted by this confidentiality requirement, please be sure to ask someone at ARI before posting or sharing anything.  Exceptions to share materials may be made on a case-by-case basis with prior permission from ARI.

Only authorized participants may participate in these discussion groups. This means that third parties may not participate by joining or viewing video or telephone conferences.

While the specific content of discussions is confidential, we encourage you to share with others what you’ve learned and how you’ve benefited from the discussions. Nothing in this confidentiality requirement is intended to prevent participants from using, disclosing or discussing assignments with other group participants or the teaching assistant(s) in the proper course of their participation in the group(s).  

Code of Conduct

Group participants are expected to behave respectfully toward each other, toward ARI, its staff and donors, and anyone else whose contact with the participants has been facilitated by ARI. Participants are expected to treat the material being discussed with seriousness and respect. 

As a participant in the group, all participants must follow certain policies and guidelines. Policies and guidelines are necessary for the benefit and protection of the rights of all participants. The following is a non-exhaustive list of rules and guidelines that may result in ARI taking action against a participant:

1. Inappropriate and/or disorderly conduct, including use of threatening, intimidating, coercive or abusive language;
2. Disclosure or misuse of confidential information regarding ARI; 
3. Harassment of others, including ARI employees or fellow participants; and
4. Failure to comply with the ARI Discussion Group Policies contained in this document (i.e., confidentiality, etc.).

If ARI learns of a violation of the Code of Conduct, we will investigate the situation and take appropriate action to remedy the situation, as necessary. Failure to adhere to this Code of Conduct can be grounds for corrective action, including counseling and/or removal from the discussion group.

Communication With ARI Staff

Questions, concerns or other communications about these policies or the group discussion should be directed to the Student Community Coordinator, Jennifer Minjarez. Jennifer can be reached by email at jminjarez@aynrand.org. 

Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions

All individuals who participate in ARI discussion groups must agree to ARI’s Privacy Policy and to ARI’s Terms and Conditions of Service. Signing or consenting to the release agreement included with this policy document confirms your acceptance of these policies.

Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct

All individuals who participate in ARI discussion groups must read and consent to the Acknowledgement and Receipt of ARI Discussion Group Policies and Release Agreement agreeing to comply with the ARI Discussion Group Policies.  

Release Agreement 

We record group discussion sessions for various ARI-related purposes. By participating in a discussion group, you (and your parent/legal guardian, if applicable) must consent to ARI recording all sessions in which you are participating and to use those recordings and images from those recordings as needed. Please review and, if acceptable to you, agree to the attached Release Agreement. 

Parental Consent Agreement

If you are under the age of 18, your parent/guardian must complete a Parental Consent Agreement. A copy of the Parental Consent Agreement is attached to this document. If applicable, please submit your signed Parental Consent Agreement to jminjarez@aynrand.org prior to the first session. We look forward to your participation in the group!

Proper Use of Session Recordings

Session recordings may be made available to group participants who are unable to attend a particular session. Recorded sessions remain subject to the rules and policies set forth in this document as well as the terms and conditions set forth in the Release Agreement. Session recordings must not be shared with anyone (including but not limited to, posting them online, sending to others, etc.).

Acknowledgment of ARI^® Discussion Group Policies and Release Agreement 

I affirm that I have read The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) Discussion Group Policies provided by ARI and that I agree to abide by the policies and provisions contained therein, including the Confidentiality and Code of Conduct provisions.

As set forth in the Discussion Group Policies, I acknowledge that I may not disclose, post, discuss or misuse any information or content obtained, learned, heard or generated during or via the group discussions to any third parties unrelated to ARI including but not limited to, online and/or on my blogs, social media or social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., without the prior express written approval from _____________ or ____________ at ARI. Nothing herein shall prevent me from using, disclosing or discussing assignments with other group discussion participants or the teaching assistant in the proper course of my participation in the group(s). I acknowledge that the discussion groups are for my individual use only and that I may not allow third parties to participate with me, including on video or telephone conferences. 

By participating in an ARI^® Discussion Group I thereby agree and consent to the following:

I acknowledge that I will be or I am attending and/or participating in discussion group(s) initiated, operated and/or facilitated by ARI. As part of my participation in such discussion group(s), I hereby irrevocably grant to The Ayn Rand Institute and its representatives, agents, employees, licensees and assigns (collectively “ARI Parties”) my consent and full right to record the discussions I attend and my participation in those discussions, including video and audio recording, taking photographs and screenshots ,or taking notes on my participation in the groups(s) (the “Recordings”) in any and all manner and media, now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, for strictly internal purposes, including but not limited to, sharing Recordings with ARI staff for reporting or quality assurance purposes, sharing Recordings with ARI donors for purposes of fundraising or showcasing the educational work ARI produces via donors’ financial support, sharing Recordings with members of the ARI Board of Directors for reporting purposes, and sharing non-downloadable Recordings with other participants of the discussion group(s).

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I hereby grant and assign to ARI Parties, all rights, in perpetuity, in and to the Recordings and their internal uses described above, including, but not limited to, the sole and exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works, edit or modify, and secure copyrights in connection with the aforesaid uses, as ARI’s sole property.

I hereby acknowledge that all of my actions and speech are subject to being recorded (and being included in the Recordings for all purposes hereunder) and that at all times during the recording process that some Recordings may be made using microphones and/or cameras which are at a distance and not immediately apparent, or that are entirely hidden from view. I agree that ARI Parties may create and include in the Recordings such actual incidents, scenes, situations, dialogue, events, characters, names, biographical information and other material as ARI Parties may, in its/their sole discretion, consider proper or necessary and ARI Parties are free to edit, change and dub any Recordings of me with any other material, as ARI Parties determine in its/their sole discretion.

I hereby represent and warrant that: (i) I knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks associated with my participation in the Recordings (ii) I will not knowingly violate any rights of, or cause any injury or damage to, any party or any party’s property; (iii) I will not be entitled to any additional consideration as a result of the exercise of the rights granted herein; and (iv) ARI Parties may rely upon this Release in producing, distributing and exploiting the Recordings. I understand and acknowledge that ARI Parties are acting in reliance on this Release, and incurring expense as a result of this reliance. 

I agree and do hereby release and discharge ARI Parties and each of their directors, officers, board members, employees, partners, insurers, affiliates, agents and successors (“ARI Releasees”) from any and all claims, demands or causes of action that I may now have or may hereafter have for libel, defamation, invasion of privacy or right of publicity, infringement of copyright or violation of any other right arising out of or relating to any utilization of the rights granted herein.

ARI Parties shall not be under any obligation to actually use the Recordings or to include the same in any program or production. I acknowledge that the Recordings are ARI’s sole and exclusive property and ARI Parties shall be entitled to all rights of ownership and all rights of copyright and copyright renewal therein in and to the Recordings. To the extent I would otherwise have any copyright or other rights in the Recordings, I hereby expressly transfer any such rights to ARI Parties. I acknowledge that the rights granted herein shall inure to the benefit of ARI, ARI Parties and their successors, licensees and assigns, and such rights are freely assignable by ARI for the purposes of production, exhibition, distribution, and exploitation of the Recordings. 

I shall not be entitled for any reason to terminate or rescind this Release or to enjoin, restrain or otherwise impair the exercise of any of the rights and privileges granted or to be granted to ARI hereunder, or to restrain, enjoin or otherwise impair ARI’s property or assets, or the development, production, exhibition and/or exploitation of the Recordings.

This Release shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. I agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Orange County, California, in the event of any claims arising from or related to this Release.

This Release contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior discussion, negotiations, understandings, and agreements (whether oral or written), and may not be changed except by written agreement signed by both parties. I have not been induced to enter into this Release by any representation or promise not contained herein. I have read this Release prior to signing it (or consenting to it) and I understand its contents.

I am at least 18 years of age and have the full, complete and unrestricted right and authority to enter into this Release, or I have reviewed this Release with my parent(s) and I am submitting the signed Parental Consent Agreement if I am not at least 18 years of age. I agree to provide you with documentation confirming my name, address, and age upon request.