About 300 UF students signed a pledge Monday to recognize that non-consensual sex is considered sexual assault.
During UF Student Government’s Sexual Assault Awareness Day, SG officers visited UF residence halls to encourage more students to sign pledges and worked with UF’s Sexual Trauma/Interpersonal Violence Education, or STRIVE, to host a consent workshop.
Natalie Martinez, the event organizer, said she promoted activities through social media, told various organizations about the day and shared it through Gator Times.
Despite this, only six students, five wearing SG polos, attended the consent workshop.
During the workshop, Marie McGrath, a LEAD peer educator with STRIVE, and Rita Lawrence, the organization’s coordinator, discussed what qualifies as sexual consent: verbal agreement to participate in sexual acts.
“Consent is basically about communication,” McGrath said. “It should be mutual.”
The two said sexual assault can happen in any relationship, no matter people’s gender, sexuality or the type of relationship.
Consent should be voluntary, sober, wanted and enthusiastic, McGrath said.
“Consent is ongoing,” McGrath said. “You need consent for every step and every single time.”
McGrath said that when someone is asking for consent, the person needs to be clear and not use vague terms like “hook up.”
Lawrence said consent is only given if a person says “yes.” Saying “no” isn’t the only sign that someone isn’t giving consent.
“Silence is not consent,” she said.
Resources
- UF Office of Victim Services 352-392-5648
- University Police Department 352-392-1111
- Shands Health Care Center 352-392-1161
- Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center 352-264-6760
- Peaceful Paths 352-377-8255
- ReportRapeGainesville.org
Contact Paige Fry at pfry@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @paigexfry
