When people consider sexual assault, they tend to think of the horror stories depicted on TV or in movies, and assume that it can't happen to them. However, within the borders of a college campus, sexual assault is just as common as students pulling an all-nighter in the library to cram for a test. Once first semester commences and college students have the campus as their playground, incidents occur and they're not always out of pure, malicious violence. Younger people are confused on how to identify consent when they are put into a sexual situation. So many policies such as "no means no," "yes means yes," and even "silence is consent," leave students distraught on what the right approach is when faced with a sexual encounter. Also, with students going out so often and alcohol usually being involved, the potential for a black and white case only becomes more gray. 

My generation or as it has been referred to now, "the hookup generation" sees no problem with going out, having to much to drink, and then waking up the next morning next to someone they had no intention of having sex with. (Kulp, Elite Daily) This type of scenario leaves one partner feeling regretful and confused, while the other is oblivious to what he or she did wrong. However, if the victim and the perpetrator knew what had actually just occurred, that one person had fallen victim to sexual assault and the other became an offender of the crime, they might've rethought the entire decision, preventing any of those aftermath feelings of regret or confusion from being there. 

The "yes means yes" policy is the only way to truly know that a sexual situation is consensual between both partners. It doesn't happen like it does in the movies; both partners slowly undress, with romantic music in the background, no words exchanged, yet both people are aware that the other person feels just as secure in the situation as they do. Usually, there is alcohol involved and certain lines are crossed due to lack of communication. Verbalizing prior to a sexual encounter can make things awkward, therefore, students don't want to "embarrass" themselves and speak up. Nevertheless, the emptiness and regret is still there the next morning once the deed has been done. The mindset for most college kids, for whatever reason, is to assume that if there are no words exchanged before any sexual activity occurs, the encounter is consensual. However, a lot of the time, silence only occurs out of fear or insecurity in the situation. The "yes means yes" policy disqualifies the lack communication assumption from being used as an excuse for sexual assault. 

Given the troubled past between universities and the issues of consent that have lead to an on campus sexual assault, there is obviously reason that a new approach should be presented. In attempt to prevent future cases of misinterpreted sexual assault, I propose to implement a course that is required for all incoming freshman to take on the "yes means yes" policy and the topic of consent. The class would brief the students on what consent actually is and how to differentiate a consensual situation from a possible sexual assault. It would also elaborate on the inclusion of alcohol and possibility of sexual assault in that arena. Of course, a class like this won't prevent all future sexual assaults, but it shows the university taking initiative to protect and educate its students. 

Sexual assault on college campuses have always been an issue. There was no significant occurrence of a specific sexual assault, it just comes with the territory. Educating students on affirmative consent and how to identify it has never been a priority; therefore, sexual assaults are becoming more and more common as generations of students become more reckless. Affirmative consent, as sexuality educator Charlie Glickman describes it, is the conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. The lack of resistance in a sexual encounter does not mean that a person is giving consent. Most college students, when being put into a sexual situation, don't think of affirmative consent or think to even ask if it is okay to proceed with sexual activity. Some incidents are purposeful and intended to be an attack; however, most college sexual assaults are cases of misinterpretation due to lack of communication. Things like alcohol and other drugs only blur the line between consensual sex and an assault and make it even harder for students to understand what affirmative consent really is. 

The history of sexual assault and the confusion of defining it has existed since colleges have become coed. Universities get more and more aggressive as time goes by with attempting to resolve the issue of sexual assaults occurring on their campuses, but yet never do enough to really make an effort to prevent future assaults from happening. No college wants the reputation of having "so many sexual assaults" that they have to take extreme action in order to protect its students. Therefore, minimal action has been taken in the past even though the upcoming generations keep becoming more reckless and uncontrolled. However, not all universities are for the "brush it under the rug" technique. California recently passed a bill implementing affirmative consent and the "yes means yes" policy in order to challenge the way sexual assaults have been handled in the past. Taking this initiative, California universities show compassion and real concern for the safety and well-being of their students. If all states were to consider this policy, acts of sexual violence on college campuses could possibly decrease instead of just being added to the pile of "resolved" cases. 

While California has adopted such a policy, the University of South Carolina has yet to implement a similar policy. Therefore, students attending the University of South Carolina do not receive adequate compassion and concern leaving them to feel at fault. At the beginning of the year, one of my close friends was sexually assaulted. She knew the boy and up until that point, felt comfortable around him. However, after a night of being downtown, they came back to her room where they proceeded to have sex even though neither of them discussed it before hand. My friend felt violated and confused. She felt like it could've possibly been her fault because before this happened she was silent instead of speaking up. The boy, on the other hand, was also confused not knowing what he had done wrong due to the fact that she didn't say no, he assumed it was consensual. When something like this happens to a student, it is up to them whether they want to go to the school board and seek guidance on the matter. However, my friend felt there was no need to pursue such guidance because she felt there was no way to prove any type of assault occurred. She knew she wasn't okay with what happened, but because she was silent before the sexual encounter, she only blamed herself. This is the exact type of situation that could be avoided all together if students were to be more informed on what affirmative consent is. Cases like these are the most common form of sexual assault on college campuses and the most difficult cases to decipher. 

Official responses to cases like these seem sufficient but do not always address the issue as is needed. The university enforces the policies laid out under Title IX and encourages all students to come forward about an assault if it happened to them or another person. (STAF 1.08 1) All the steps and rules are there but the emphasis on the issue is not. 

As current policies for most colleges stand now, a sexual assault is dealt with by the university alone and it is up to them when it comes the resolution of the case. Although California adopted the affirmative consent policy, Title IX, and President Obama implemented the "It's On Us" campaign, both courses of action stand alone in the fight to avoid sexual assaults. The University of South Carolina does stand behind these rules but the education prior to any sexual activity is nearly absent. My position on the topic is in support of the affirmative consent and the policies that represent the implementation of this policy. I believe that the only way to truly define whether a sexual encounter is mutually agreed upon is to vocalize one's opinion or read a mutual body language between the two people. Furthermore, I support affirmative language being made to feel more comfortable for students to use prior to any sexual activity.

There are ways to identify consent without vocalizing, however. An example being sexual educator, Charlie Glickman's thoughts explaining that there are other ways to indicate one's desire to participate in sexual activity other than voicing it. He states that using hand gestures or motions, locking eye contact, and body language in general can all display wanting to engage in consensual sex. (Glickman, 438) Although this type of approval doesn't represent what affirmative consent stands for, sexual situations are not always so cut and dry. Sometimes in certain sexual situations, people feel no need to voice what they are feeling, they just go with what feels natural. Speaking before or "interrupting" sex for some participants can "ruin the mood." Not all scenarios without words exchanged prior to engaging in sexual activity are due to one partner being fearful or too shocked to speak up against what is happening. This leads to the question, does this make everyone who doesn't ask if the other is okay with having sex a rapist? Or is everyone who doesn't speak against the sexual advances of another a victim of sexual assault? 

Sexual education instructor Jennifer Medina elaborates on such topics of concern in her article, "Yes Means Yes, But It's Tricky." She introduces the idea of consent to a class of tenth graders, where they respond with complete confusion. The class, although younger than college students, still provides a valid representation of younger people having no clue how to define affirmative consent. Unfortunately, the seminar left the minds of the high school students even more blurred than before on the topic. (Medina) Explaining what consent really is and encouraging communication prior to a sexual encounter to even a group a tenth graders, will introduce the subject and make it feel more comfortable for the years to come.

I am undoubtedly in favor of the enactment of the affirmative consent policy being put into effect on college campuses everywhere and the "Yes Means Yes" strategy. The opposing mantra, "No Means No," leaves much too many opportunities for sexual assault to occur. Are students supposed to assume that the lack of rejection of sexual momenta means that the situation is consensual? That's where most offenders go wrong. They believe that the absence of speech against sex is a reason to proceed but instead it causes just as much emotional damage as an intentional rape on the victim. Therefore, they go from being referred to as a college attendee to a sexual predator. NYU students produced a YouTube video on their personal thoughts on consent and how it should be viewed. They share how consent shouldn't be viewed as some type of "contract," it should be seen as something that would only enhance the moment. (Trapman-O'Brien, YouTube) Michael Kimmel and Gloria Steinem in their joint article, "Yes is Better than No," rationalize on the question who would want to hear the word no before or during sex? "Yes" is on of the biggest turn on words there is when it comes to sexual activity, it's the clarification that everything that is going on is right on target. (Kimmel and Steinem, 436) 

With the passing of the affirmative consent policy throughout universities all over, the difference between uneducated, college kids, and deliberate, sexual offenders on college campuses, can be brought to light. However, my personal stance is to incorporate "Yes Means Yes" and the affirmative consent policy, along with the ideologies of Glickman and Medina who understand the confusion of consent. The combination of the two sides of the spectrum of sexual consent, I believe, can relay better to younger kids and not come off so black and white. The University of South Carolina has a strong policy against sexual assault, however, the preparation for students when they come to college is lacking. There are always going to be gray areas in the matter of consent, but with certain course of action, future sexual assaults can be prevented. 

I feel that although this is a problem that will likely continue to occur as long as universities are set up the way they are now, but there are courses of action that could be taken to put a stop to future sexual assaults. As I stated in my thesis, I suggest the University of South Carolina implement a class for all freshman to take that informs them on what consent is and the "Yes Means Yes" policy. The class would address the aspect of confusion that could possibly occur prior to a sexual encounter and how that can be interpreted as rape by the other participate. Although the University 101 course offered at the University of South Carolina is optional, this class could be seen as similar because it would be a safe space for freshman to talk ask questions regarding consent. The University's policies now are set in place but lack the proper reinforcement. South Carolina requires freshman to complete an Alcohol EDU online course, along with another online course called "Haven" that addresses sexual assault. However, even with my experience when completing both courses, I felt they were only something to get out of the way and I didn't take much away from them. They covered the dangers of over drinking and some of the aspects of consent, but I feel like an interactive classroom setting with an actual instructor that can educate the students on the definition of affirmative consent and what the risk of being uneducated can lead to would be much more affective. Applying this to the curriculum of all freshman would change the way they viewed a "consensual" situation. The class would elaborate on how silence cannot be considered consent and layout the right way to go about a sexual encounter. The university already offers counseling and guidance after an assault has already happened, however, this class can serve as a haven for kids who have questions and concerns prior to any sexual encounters on campus. 

Not only will the class act as a mentor for freshman on affirmative consent but it will touch on topics that can influence a sexual encounter such as alcohol. The University of South Carolina is not defined as a dry campus and five points is only a five-minute walk from the dorms, therefore students are going to experiment with alcohol. The affects that alcohol has such as new born confidence and a fogged mind lead to decisions that one would not have made if they were completely in the know of their actions. Often times, after a night of being downtown, students wake up and have no recollection of what happened the night before or what they did with who is lying next to them. Sometimes it can even be someone that one thought they could trust, yet they find themselves to be taken advantage of. A night like this is seen as a "one-night stand" or just a casual hookup to most. However, the lasting affects on both parties can leave a scar. Being aware of one's intoxication level as well as the level of the person they are with will also be exemplified in the course. 

Other proposals that have been brought to light in order to defuse the likelihood of sexual assaults occurring on college campuses are promising. The affirmative consent policy that was passed in California takes a direct approach in attempting to protect the lives of the students attending college within the state. There is also Obama's law, "It's On Us," that I have mentioned that encourages students to report suspicious activity they feel is out of the ordinary. However, a state level law would take much longer to pass, therefore, my proposal will attack the problem at the local level first and attempt to create a safer space for the students attending the University of South Carolina. 

The topic of sexual consent is never a conversation that anyone wants to have. It is an issue that a university never wants to admit they deal with but it is inevitable and there needs to be a more aggressive approach towards a resolution. With my proposal of the the first semester course required for freshman to take, I believe that this is taking a greater step to assist in preventing future sexual assaults. Students will learn what affirmative consent is and how serious the problem of sexual assault on college campuses actually is. No one thinks that when they come to college they could end up being a victim of such a crime, but as policies through the university stand now, there is no telling how many lives will be negatively affected by this malice. 

