Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Sholock, Adale" <>]

A group of us are rewriting the sexual misconduct policy at WCU, and we are having some difficulty agreeing upon definitions. I was hoping to get some advice and input from this list.

 

My team and I have agreed upon the need for categories such as effective consent, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and stalking. However, there has been contentious conversation around the idea of having two separate categories for sexual assault. In short, the proposal is that Sexual Assault I would refer to “intentional” acts whereas Sexual Assault II would refer to “unintentional” acts. Sexual Assault I would be more severe in punishment than Sexual Assault II. It seems that UVA and UC San Diego do something similar to this with their policies.

 

The idea is that a delineation between “intentional” and “unintentional” would broaden the conception of sexual assault to include those complicated situations involving non-strangers, alcohol, poor communication, and lack of understanding regarding effective consent. As a result of this more inclusive definition, our hope is that: 1) survivors would be more able to identify their experiences as sexual assault and come forward for help; 2) we would challenge “stranger danger” messages; 3) we would emphasize the need for effective consent rather than one’s intentions to assault someone.  

 

Any thoughts?

 

Best,

Adale  

 

Adale Sholock, Ph.D.

Director, Women's Center

Director, Institute for Women

220 Lawrence Center

West Chester University

West Chester, PA 19038

t: 610-436-2122

e:

www.wcupa.edu/womenscenter

 

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