University officials are re-examining the way sexual assault is handled at OCU through a survey to the campus community about “sexual respect.” But, for the survey to bring any real change, students must respond to it.
The survey was sent to the campus community via email April 1. It will be open until May 5.S
Consent is the foundation of any relationship, but both partners need to understand what consent means.
The Oklahoma Daily, the University of Oklahoma’s student newspaper, published a series of columns discussing healthy relationships, sex lives and consent. “Consent is the presence of a ‘yes,’ not the absence of a ‘no,’” a March 31 column read. This is a good perspective to have.
Consent is a voluntary and enthusiastic expression, and it also can be signaled through body language. While this may seem obvious to many, some students need to think more consciously about the decisions they make in sexual encounters.
Sexual assault and rape are common at colleges and universities, and this is why the sexual respect survey needs to be taken seriously.
It’s important that students take the survey to ensure officials have a diverse set of opinions about OCU’s perceptions of sexual respect.
If students don’t voice their thoughts or opinions, the university can’t make changes to Title IX programming or training to benefit the campus community.
Students must have a say in programming that could directly impact their lives. If a student experiences any form of assault, they shouldn’t have to experience neglect or refusal from higher-ups, be put in classes with their assaulter or deal with grievances with the Title IX system on top of the trauma they experience from the assault itself. Sadly, these are fears that many, if not all, survivors of campus sexual assault live with.
For students to receive the best care possible in these situations and get justice for what was done to them, they should communicate their thoughts through the survey and answer the questions honestly.
Officials should use the information to continue updating programming and ensure students have the resources available to them in any traumatic situation.
Students also should always be conscious of their actions and ensure consent is at the forefront of any physical contact.
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