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

["Donais, Lauren" <>]

Dear Colleagues,

 

I imagine that a good number of you are at institutions that require AlcoholEdu, the online alcohol prevention program. Our Wellness and Prevention Outreach Coordinator brought the Alcohol and Consent section (please see below) to my attention yesterday. I’m a bit concerned with the “…individuals should discuss their willingness to have sex well in advance of sexual activity” language in number 3, as we seem to have quite a few incoming students who feel obtaining consent early on in the night (before any alcohol is consumed) is sufficient.

 

Has anyone been in touch with AlcoholEdu regarding this matter? If so, would you mind sharing your contact?

 

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How does alcohol affect a person’s ability to give sexual consent?

Alcohol and Consent

Consent is what a person says or does to give agreement for sexual contact, including sexual intercourse, to occur.

Alcohol can create a lot of confusion when it comes to interpreting whether a person has actually given consent. Because alcohol affects judgment, decision-making, and the ability to communicate clearly, drinking can seriously affect someone’s ability to give clear consent. Alcohol can also make it difficult for the other person involved to understand whether their potential partner has given consent or is even capable of legally doing so.

Determining Consent

In order to be sure that consent has taken place, people should keep in mind the following four standards:

1. Both parties should be unimpaired by alcohol or drugs: Both individuals should be able to control their own thoughts and know what is going on around them.
2. Both parties should be able to act freely: Both individuals must be free to change their mind at any time, and a person’s silence should not be misinterpreted as consent.
3. Both parties should clearly communicate their permission: Both individuals should discuss their willingness to have sex well in advance of sexual activity.
4. Both parties should be honest about their desires: Both individuals should be 100% honest about their feelings, and they should not convince their partners to have sex by being dishonest about their feelings or intentions.

Source: Berkowitz, A. B., (2002). “Guidelines for Sex in Intimate Relationships.”Campus Safety & Student Development. 4 (3), 49-50.

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Many thanks,

 

Lauren Donais, MA

Violence Against Women Prevention Program Coordinator, Women’s Center

University of Connecticut

2110 Hillside Rd., Unit 3118

Storrs, CT 06269-3118

(860) 486-1103 (Phone)

(860)486-1104 (Fax)

http://womenscenter.uconn.edu/

 

 

 

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