AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT & INCAPACITATION

There is no better time to talk about affirmative consent than when new students are moving onto campus. Research has shown that undergraduate students are at the highest risk for campus sexual assault in their first college semester. Advocacy groups call this period the “red zone.” Incoming freshman learn about affirmative consent at orientation, and the University of Minnesota defines affirmative consent in the administrative policy on Sexual Harasment, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Relationship Violence. 

This is a policy that you will likely be examining as an SSMS panel member. For a refresher on Evaluating Affirmative Consent and Incapacitation, watch this video:

The video slides are available here:

A process chart that breaks down the elements of the University’s affirmative consent policy can be found in your panelist handbook, or here.

Sincerely,

Kevin Dostal Dauer, co-chair

Lynetter Renner, co-chair

Bobbie Erichsen, secretary