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. To defuse this gray area, students should be educated more on the subject prior to a sexual assault, rather than just consulted or punished afterwards.

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. My generation has lost the motivation to find a "healthy" relationship and receives fulfillment from random hookups here and there. 

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 prior to any sexual activity at all. Cases like these are the most common form of sexual assault on college campuses and the most difficult cases to decipher. 

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 before any permanent damage can be done.

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. (Glickman 437) 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, many college sexual assaults are cases of misinterpretation due to lack of communication. 

As history shows, The University of South Carolina has never taken the issue of sexual assault lightly. However, it was not until July 1, 1993, that the university implemented a written policy on the matter. (STAF 1.08) USC has the definitions of sexual assault, consent, and a list of what can be defined as consensual according to the university laid out in the policy. Also, the policy stresses the encouragement of students to report sexual assault in any situation, whether it happened to them, a friend, or they witnessed something they felt should be reported. Although these rules were set out in 1993 and the University attempted to approach the matter of sexual assault on campus, statistics were still showing that 1 in 5 college women would be sexually assaulted during their time in college as of September 2014. (Obama 449) When California passed the Affirmative Consent policy, or Title IX, in October of 2014, Carolina chose to revise their policies to match up with the guidelines listed within Title IX. (STAF 1.08) Currently, the University of South Carolina is an advocate of the affirmative consent clause and expects the students attending the university to abide by this policy. This means that students must be fully aware and conscious to comply consensually in sexual situation and there is no consent when a student is impaired due to the intoxication of either drugs or alcohol. By revising their policy of sexual assault, the University of South Carolina is making progress in decreasing the amount of assaults on campus. However, there is still more than can be done to address this issue.

The adoption of the affirmative consent policy at the University of South Carolina is a major step towards preventing sexual assaults. My position on the topic, however, is in support of the education of students prior to any sexual activity happening on consent and how to properly identify it. I also am in favor of the encouragement for students to speak up about sexual assault. People my age are so confused on what consent is and what is okay when it comes to a sexual encounter. Therefore, they need a forum where they are free to ask questions and feel comfortable telling their stories.

The number of colleges that are adopting the "Yes Means Yes" or affirmative consent policy is growing everyday. (New 430) However, those in opposition, such as sexual educator Charlie Glickman, feel there are other ways to identify consent besides vocalization. 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 exactly, 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.

The enactment of the affirmative consent policy being put into effect on college campuses everywhere, as well as the "Yes Means Yes" strategy, are what most colleges are leaning towards recently. 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 a class for all freshman to take that will create a safe place for them to get an education in regards to sexual assault and consent. The University of South Carolina has a strong policy against sexual assault, however, the lack of knowledge students have on consent and the lack of comfort students have coming forward with incidents that have occurred is the real problem. 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. (LaFrance, Loe, Brown 455) 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. USC, as I stated before, states in the policy on sexual assault that proper consent cannot be given when one or both parties is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. 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. Students will obviously make mistakes after drinking too much but the class can inform students that these "mistakes" are still considered assaults even though their decision making was impaired due to alcohol.

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 and influenced Carolina's policy that is now in action, takes a direct approach in attempting to protect the lives of the students on college campuses. 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 without students having any prior education, there is no telling how many lives will be negatively affected by this malice. 

