Often times, in regards to intercourse, people tend to follow the "no means no" mantra. This means that unless the words "no," "stop," or anything along those lines are verbalized, it is assumed that the sex will be consensual amongst both partners. However, that assumption leads to cases of sexual assault leaving both the victim and the perpetrator confused and alarmed. Situations likes this have become much to common amid the younger generation and raises questions of how well they were schooled on the subject of proper consent. Sexual education courses should include consent in their curriculum and how to differentiate between the assumption of compliance and actual agreement to engage in sexual activity to prevent further cases of misinterpretation, reduce the rates of sexual assault that occur on college campuses, and hopefully allow for universities to approach acts of sexual violence with more intention of resolution. 

Being a young female on a college campus, the possibility of sexual assault is always lurking around the corner. Just last week, a female student was attacked on campus only five minutes away from where I live. This topic deemed very personal to me and my peers and looking further into this subject would allow me to obtain valuable information to have on hand. I personally have not been sexually assaulted, but due to my prior lack of knowledge on the topic, it made me think about how I wasn't sure what consent really meant. Just this year, a close friend of mine was sexually assaulted but in a case of misconception. Her partner didn't ask if she wanted to sex but because she didn't say no, he assumed it was okay. This left my friend feeling violated and uncomfortable and the boy confused on what he did wrong. Growing up, I was told to vocalize my right to reject someone and say no, but I was never told to be as enthusiastic when it came to wanting to pursue sexual activity. When I thought about it, how could one ever know someone was interested unless they were given a "yes" by the other partner. I am fully supportive when it comes to putting a sex offender to justice, but when there are gray areas of misinterpretation, it complicates things. The "yes" response is the only thing that can truly separate a case of consensual sex from one of miscalculated sexual assault. 

The New York Times posted an article back in October of 2014 called "Yes means yes, but It's Tricky," by Jennifer Medina. The context of the article was to show how confused young adults are in regards to the topic of consent. Medina describes an instructor informing a class of tenth graders on the right way to approach a sexual encounter. As the teacher explains things, the class becomes even more confused than before they even entered the class. Medina lays out her claim perfectly without even having to say it directly: kids are clueless on the topic of consent. Her evidence of conversations and responses from the students get her thoughts across to the reader. Although the article seems to ring true, there is some obvious bias present in this piece. The author makes the assumption that every teenager does not understand the idea of consent. However, the evidence provided, such as the interaction between the students and the instructor, adds credibility to the Medina's point of view. 

Another article "Yes is Better Than No," by Michael Kimmel and Gloria Steinem, from The Carolina Rhetoric, elaborates on a similar issue. The article particularly focuses on the question, "Why stand by 'no means no,' when 'yes means yes,' is much more clear?" Both authors go into detail on how hearing the word 'yes' during a sexual encounter can only enhance the moment. There is bias within the article in regards to how they feel about the new implanted policy in California. California recently applied the law 'yes means yes,' to prevent future assaults on college campuses and both Kimmel and Steinem are very much in favor of this law being put into action everywhere. The piece has credibility in the way that all the facts are backed up with explanations as to why they are in the article and with sources of origin. 

The last source that deals with the issue of consent is "Why All Colleges Should Adopt Affirmative Consent," from The Carolina Rhetoric, by Kelli Gulite. Her main idea, stated clearly in the title, is to sell the solution of "affirmative consent" to her readers. She defines affirmative consent as affirmative and voluntary agreement to participate in sexual activity. She factors in thoughts on alcohol being put in the mix, which is often times true in regards to a college campus, saying that both partners should be aware of the others intoxication level before approaching any kind of sexual activity. Her facts resonated with me but I did detect some bias in her writing. She assumes that all victims of sexual assault are female, which is not true. Although it doesn't happen nearly as often, men are sexually assaulted too. The sources she refers to within her writing, however, give her credibility and makes the reader trust what she has to say. 

There is no way one can say that the government has done all they can to attempt to prevent future sexual assaults. Of course, they're not going to resolve every single case, but ones that occur out of a misinterpretation rather than a malicious act of intentional violence, are the ones that could be prevented when the idea of consent is mutually understood by the upcoming generation. Having a clear understanding of how to define whether a situation is consensual or not could spare the lives of future college students and dilute that gray area where most misinterpretation occurs. 

Communication prior to sexual activity is key to determining what kind of case is which: consensual or not consensual. Sometimes, all one needs to save his or her reputation is the knowledge of the other partner agreeing to engage in sexual activity. It is so important to verbalize one's enthusiasm to participate in sex, rather than just saying no if they don't want to. Agreeing with sex is just as important, if not more, and is the true way to define consent. Informing the upcoming generation on ways to identify signs of consent will work towards preventing future acts of sexual assault and help to clear the gray area of misconception. 

