Consent is sexy. That is one of the lessons that organizers hope students take away from the events going on during UO’s Sexual Violence Prevention Week, which began April 18 and lasts until April 25. The week lands during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and allows students to come together as a community and work to address the issue of sexual assault in the community and on campus.
In fact, the Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team believes consent is so important that they are asking students to take pledges in order to prove their commitment to promoting healthy actions and relationships.
“This is a great opportunity to get more awareness around about these topics,” said Abigail Leeder, the director of Sexual Violence Education and Prevention, a group affiliated with the Office of the Dean of Students. “Students will know that there are safe and confidential resources. This is just one of many things the university does to address sexual violence. We are trying to add more programming and awareness to this topic.”
One of the events that are going on this week is the Consent Pledge and Healthy Relationships Photo Project, which is a part of the Please Do Ask (PDA) project. The event is being put on by the Student Leaders of Sexual Wellness, a new campus group affiliated with University Housing, and they hope for a big turnout. The event encourages students to sign the “PDA Project Pledge” which expresses the need to end sexual violence in our community. The pledge is available to everyone and all students are being encouraged to take it.
“This project is all about promoting healthy sexual relationships and consent, especially,” said Claire Johnson, a member of the Student Leaders of Sexual Wellness.
By signing the pledge, students are pledging to only practice consensual sex: Making sure their sexual partner says yes, asking partners what they want every time they engage in sexual acts, and becoming an active witness when one suspects sexual assault.
Students are also asked to sign their names on the “Pledge Poster,” similar to how one would make a public declaration. Willing participants also had the opportunity to answer questions concerning sexual relationships and consent on whiteboards. Students then took pictures with their whiteboard responses. The pictures will be posted on the group’s Facebook page.
If interested in taking the pledge, the event will be running from 12-4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and is located in the EMU Amphitheater. For more information on other events and programs going on during Sexual Violence Prevention Week, here is a calendar. You can also visit this site to get involved and contact the various programs.