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Sexual Assault and Consent

Sexual Assault consists of (1) Sexual Contact and/or (2) Sexual Intercourse that occurs without (3) Consent.

1. Sexual Contact (or attempts to commit) is the intentional touching of another person’s intimate body parts, clothed or unclothed, if that intentional touching can reasonably be construed as having the intent or purpose of obtaining sexual arousal or gratification.

2. Sexual Intercourse (or attempts to commit) is any penetration, however slight, of a bodily orifice with any object(s) or body part. Sexual Intercourse includes vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger, or any contact between the mouth of one person and the genitalia of another person.

3. Consent is an understandable exchange of affirmative words or actions, which indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent must be informed, freely and actively given. It is the responsibility of the initiator to obtain clear and affirmative responses at each stage of sexual involvement. Consent to one form of sexual activity does not imply consent to other forms of sexual activity. The lack of a negative response is not consent. An individual who is incapacitated by alcohol and/or other drugs both voluntarily or involuntarily consumed may not give consent. Past consent of sexual activity does not imply ongoing future consent.

Consent cannot be given if any of the following are present: (A) Force, (B) Coercion or (C) Incapacitation.

A. Force is the use of physical violence and/or imposing on someone physically to gain sexual access. Force also includes threats, intimidation (implied threats) and/or coercion that overcome resistance.

B. Coercion is unreasonable pressure for sexual activity. Coercion is more than an effort to persuade, entice, or attract another person to have sex. Conduct does not constitute coercion unless it wrongfully impairs an individual’s freedom of will to choose whether to participate in the sexual activity.

C. Incapacitation is a state where an individual cannot make rational, reasonable decisions due to the debilitating use of alcohol and/or other drugs, sleep, unconsciousness, or because of a disability that prevents the individual from having the capacity to give consent. Intoxication is not incapacitation and a person is not incapacitated merely because the person has been drinking or using drugs. Incapacitation due to alcohol and/or drug consumption results from ingestion that is more severe than impairment, being under the influence, drunkenness, or intoxication. The question of incapacitation will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Being intoxicated or incapacitated by drugs, alcohol, or other medication will not be a defense to any violation of this Policy.

 

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