Effective consent must be based on mutually understandable communication that clearly indicates a willingness to engage in sexual activity. Consent is an ongoing process that can be withdrawn at any time. Consent should be:
Freely Given – Consent must be a voluntary choice made without pressure, guilt, threats, or manipulation.
Reversible – Anyone can change their mind at any time.
Informed – Everyone has a clear understanding of what is going to happen.
Enthusiastic – Consent should be based on an active, genuine desire to participate. A lack of protest is not consent.
Specific – Saying yes to a specific activity does not mean saying yes to everything or something else. Consent must be given for each separate act.
Barriers to Consent
Barriers to consent include age, power dynamics within the College, force, coercion, and incapacitation. If any of these are present, consent is not able to be given.
Age – The legal age of consent in Ohio is 16. Anyone over the age of 16 cannot engage in a sexual relationship with anyone younger than 16.
Power Dynamics within the College – Members of faculty and staff are not able to enter into any type of sexual relationship with a student. Because of the power dynamic, students are not able to consent in this situation.
Force – Using or threatening physical violence, restraint, or physical intimidation to obtain sexual activity
Coercion – Wearing someone down or pressuring them into sexual activity.
Incapacitation – The inability to make an informed decision about sexual activity. A person may be incapacitated due to alcohol or other drugs, being asleep or unconscious, or having a physical or mental condition that prevents them from giving consent.