2022-2023 Student Handbook

Consent

Consent is clear, knowing and voluntary. Consent is active, not passive. Silence, in and of itself, cannot be interpreted as consent. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions create mutually understandable clear permission regarding willingness to engage in (and the conditions of) sexual activity.

Sexual activity with someone known to be mentally or physically incapacitated, or based on the circumstances, someone who could reasonably be known to be mentally or physically incapacitated, constitutes a violation of this policy.

  • Incapacitation is a state where someone cannot make rational, reasonable decisions because he or she lacks the capacity to give knowing consent (e.g., to understand the “who, what, when, where, why or how” of the sexual interaction). Alcohol or other drug use, unconsciousness or blackout is an example of incapacitation.
  • This policy also covers a person whose incapacity results from mental disability, sleep, involuntary physical restraint, or from the taking of rape drugs. Possession, use and/or distribution of any of these substances, including Rohypnol, Ketamine, GHB, Burundanga, etc. is prohibited, and administering one of these drugs to another person is a violation of this policy. More information on these drugs can be found at http://www.911rape.org/

Use of alcohol or other drugs will never function as a defense to a violation of this policy.

Consent to any one form of sexual activity cannot automatically imply consent to any other forms of sexual activity. Previous relationships or prior consent cannot imply consent to future sexual acts.