SPEAK UP!
CONSENT, ALCOHOL & SEXUAL ASSAULT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Amanda Mullaly Crime Prevention Officer
508.999.9191 amanda.mullaly@umassd.edu
Elizabethe Plante
Community Case Manager
508.910.6965 eplante1@umassd.edu
David Gomes, Esq
Title IX Coordinator/Chief Diversity Officer
508.999.9182 david.gomes.eeo@umassd.edu
Beth-Anne Guthrie
Associate Director for Advocacy & Education, Confidential Victim Advocate
508.910.6567 bvieira@umassd.edu
Heather Quire, MSEd
Associate Vice-Chancellor & Dean of Campus Life
508.999.8640 vcstudentaffairs@umassd.edu
Sergeant Lisa Cabral University Police
508.910.6289 cabral1@umassd.edu
Silent Witness/Police Tip Line 508.999.8477
CONSENT TIPS TO A SAFER ENVIRONMENT
HOW ALCOHOL IS MEASURED IN THE BODY
DRUG-FACILITATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE
POSSIBLE SIGNS OF BEING DRUGGED
NEXT STEPS FOR A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS
SIGNS THAT DEMONSTRATE IMPAIRMENT
CORSAIRS LOOK OUT FOR OTHER CORSAIRSBYSTANDER INTERVENTION
SPEAK UP!
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, sexual violence affects every demographic and every community—including lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people.
One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college
of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault.
of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Nationally, sexual assault is the most under-reported crime.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ) people experience violence at similar or higher rates than heterosexuals. Estimates suggest that up to 85% of sexual assaults among college students involve
alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance to facility sexual assault. Even if you choose to use alcohol or drugs, you DID NOT ASK TO BE or DESERVE TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED!
CONSENT
Sexual activity requires consent, which is defined as clear, unambiguous and voluntary agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity.
Consent cannot be inferred from the absence of a “no”; a clear “yes,” verbal or otherwise, is necessary. Although consent does not need to be verbal, verbal communication is the most reliable form of asking for and gauging consent, and individuals are thus urged to seek consent in verbal form. Talking with sexual partners about desires and limits may seem awkward but serves as the basis for positive sexual experiences shaped by mutual willingness and respect. Consent cannot be obtained from someone who is asleep or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated, whether due to alcohol, drugs or some other condition. Consent cannot be obtained by threat, coercion or force. Agreement given under such conditions does not constitute consent. Consent must be clear
and unambiguous for each participant throughout any sexual encounter. Consent to some sexual acts does not imply consent to others, nor does past consent to a given act imply ongoing or future consent. Consent can be revoked at any time. For all of these reasons, sexual partners must evaluate consent in an ongoing fashion and should communicate clearly with each other throughout any sexual encounter.
We believe that everyone has the right to sexuality without violence and, as part of that, we believe that positive sexuality begins with enthusiastic consent. This means being as excited and into someone else’s enjoyment as we are excited and into our own enjoyment.
BECAUSE…
DOESN’T MEAN YES!
Only yes means yes-and yes should come from an engaged and enthusiastic partner.
Tips to Create a Safer Environment
1. Keep an eye on your friends. If you are going out in a group, plan to arrive together and leave together. If you decide to leave early, let your friends know. If you’re at a party, check in with them during the night to see how they’re doing. If something doesn’t look right, step in. Don’t be afraid to let a friend know if something is making you uncomfortable or if you are worried about their safety.
2. Have a backup plan. Sometimes plans change quickly. You might realize it’s not safe for you to drive home, or the group you arrived with might decide to go somewhere you don’t feel comfortable. Download a rideshare app, like Uber, or keep the number for a reliable cab company saved in your phone and cash on hand in case you decide to leave.
3. Know what you’re drinking. Don’t recognize an ingredient? Use your phone to look it up. Consider avoiding large- batch drinks like punches or “jungle juice” that may have a deceptively high alcohol content. There is no way to know exactly what was used to create these drinks
4. Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable or worried for any reason, don’t ignore these feelings. Go with your gut. Get somewhere safe and find someone you trust or call law enforcement.
5. Don’t leave a drink unattended. That includes when you use the bathroom, go dancing or leave to make a phone call. Either take the drink with you or throw it out. Avoid using the same cup to refill your drink.
6. Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know or trust. This can be challenging in some settings, like a party or a date. If you choose to accept a drink from someone you’ve just met, try to go with the person to the bar to order it, watch it being poured and carry it yourself.
7. Check in with yourself. You might have heard the expression “know your limits.” Whether you drink regularly or not, check in with yourself periodically to register how you feel.
8. Be aware of sudden changes in the way your body feels. Do you feel more intoxicated than you should? Some drugs are odorless, colorless and/or tasteless, and can be added to your drink without you noticing. If you feel uncomfortable, tell a friend and have them take you to a safe place. If you suspect you or a friend has been drugged, call 911 and be upfront with healthcare professionals so they can administer the right tests.
9. Ask yourself, “Would I do this if I was sober?” Alcohol can have an effect on your overall judgment. You wouldn’t drive, make medical decisions or ride a bike while intoxicated. Many professionals, such as doctors, teachers and pilots, cannot be drunk while doing their jobs. Given this context, is what you’re about to do a good idea? Will you be comfortable with your decision the next day?
Like many other substances, alcohol can inhibit a person’s physical and mental abilities. In the context of sexual assault, this means that alcohol may make it easier for a perpetrator to commit a crime and can even prevent someone from remembering that the assault occurred.
What can I do to stay safe?
You can take steps to increase your safety in situations where drinking may be involved. These tips can help you feel safer and may reduce the risk of something happening, but, like any safety tips, they are not foolproof. It’s important to remember that sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, regardless of whether they were sober or under the influence of drugs or alcohol when it occurred.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT
Blood alcohol content (BAC), also known as a blood alcohol level, is the amount of alcohol in your blood.
The amount of alcohol in your blood can vary based on several factors including:
• The amount of alcohol you’re drinking.
• How quickly you’re drinking.
• How much food you ate before drinking.
• Your age and weight.
Factors That Determine BAC
Gender
Alcohol affects people differently. Research indicates that alcohol’s effects on many people assigned female at birth tend to be stronger and last longer. This is because a lot of people assigned female at birth produce a smaller amount of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach. As a result, they reach a peak BAC about 20% higher than people assigned male at birth do when consuming the same amount of alcohol.
Body Weight
Your weight affects the percentage of alcohol in blood. A heavier person has more body fluids with which the alcohol will mix, and thus will have a lower BAC.
Strength of the Drink
The stronger the alcohol content in the beverage consumed, the higher the BAC will rise. A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits, straight or in a mixed drink, a 5-ounce glass of wine and a 12-ounce bottle or can of beer contain equivalent amounts of alcohol.
Size of Drink
A larger drink will contain more alcohol and result in a higher BAC than a smaller drink of the same alcohol strength. For example, a 24-ounce beer contains twice as much alcohol as a 12-ounce beer of the same brand.
Food
Food in the stomach does not absorb alcohol, but it might slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed. All consumed alcohol will get into the blood eventually. Trying to prevent becoming intoxicated by drinking only on a full stomach will just result in a well-fed person who might be intoxicated.
Time Spent Drinking
The faster a person consumes alcohol, the more quickly BAC will reach its peak. Spreading out drinking over time will result in a lower peak BAC, other factors being equal. For example, the BAC would reach a higher level if a person had three drinks in one hour than if a person had one drink each hour for three hours.
How Alcohol is Measured in the Body
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant (it reduces stimulation in your central nervous system) and affects every organ in your body. Here’s how different percentages of blood alcohol content (BAC) can affect you physically and mentally:
BAC 0.0%: There’s no alcohol in your blood (you’re sober).
BAC 0.02%: At this percentage, you may experience an altered mood, relaxation and a slight loss of judgment.
BAC 0.05%: At this percentage, you may feel uninhibited and have lowered alertness and impaired judgment.
BAC 0.08%: At this percentage, you may have reduced muscle coordination, find it more difficult to detect danger and have impaired judgment and reasoning.
BAC 0.10%: At this percentage, you may have a reduced reaction time, slurred speech and slowed thinking.
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Violence
• Drugs and alcohol can lower inhibitions and interfere with decision making. In other words, while intoxicated, people may engage in sexual activities that they would not consider while sober.
• Being intoxicated can take away your ability to give and receive consent for sexual activity.
• Once intoxicated, a person cannot give consent, no matter what they may verbalize. THAT’S THE LAW!
• Although there is no official Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) at which a person is deemed substantially impaired, to be 100% sure that you are having consensual sex, BE SOBER!
• Being drunk or high can alter your decision making when it comes to using condoms, sexually transmitted infections and or birth control methods, as well as your ability to use them properly.
• Drugging someone on purpose is considered a felony in most states. This includes someone putting a drug or alcohol into your drink or food without your knowledge.
• Some drugs used to commit sexual violence include Roofies Rohypnol, Liquid Ecstasy/GHB and Special K/Ketamine. Recreational drugs such as marijuana may also be used to facilitate sexual violence.
• Many of these drugs are tasteless, odorless, colorless and difficult to detect in a drink. They are just as dangerous when put into water as they are in alcohol.
• These drugs may be taken voluntarily by the sexual assault survivor. Predators seek out the most wasted person in the room to take advantage of the resulting vulnerability.
• These drugs can also be ingested involuntarily through beverages including spiked drinks, non-alcoholic drinks or food.
BAC 0.15%: At this percentage, you may experience an altered mood, nausea and vomiting and loss of balance and some muscle control.
BAC 0.15% to 0.30%: In this percentage range, you may experience confusion, vomiting and drowsiness.
BAC 0.30% to 0.40%: In this percentage range, you’ll likely have alcohol poisoning, a potentially life-threatening condition, and experience loss of consciousness.
BAC Over 0.40%: This is a potentially fatal blood alcohol level. You’re at risk of coma and death from respiratory arrest (absence of breathing).
Possible Signs of Being Drugged
• Unexpectedly becoming very tired or drowsy
• Feeling very jittery or your heart is racing
• Having hallucinations-seeing or hearing things
• Suddenly or unexpectedly getting sick and/or vomiting
• Not being able to remember what happened
• Having bits of memories of something that might have happened
• Friends don’t let friends have sex with drunk or unconscious people!
Next Steps for a Survivor of Sexual Assault
• Students are highly recommended to go to St. Lukes Hospital or Student Health Services Center to address your personal health and wellness.
• Students have the right to file a formal complaint with the Title IX coordinator.
• Students have the right to file a complaint with University Police or Dartmouth township police.
• Students also have the right to not file a formal complaint and to request confidentiality.
• Whether or not a formal complaint is filed, certain appropriate accommodations, including housing and academic accommodations, may be made.
• Students can explore all options and available resources confidentially with the Title IX coordinator.
A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS
Friends don’t let friends have sex with drunk or unconscious people!
Drugs and alcohol can affect people’s ability to make decisions, including whether or not they want to be sexually active with someone. This means that if someone is really out of it, they cannot give consent. Being sexually involved with someone when they don’t know what is going on is the same as engaging in sexual assault.
Signs that Demonstrate Impairment
• Falling down
• Slurred or incoherent speech
• Disorientation
• Vomiting
• Passing out or falling asleep
• Atypical behavior of any kind
Corsairs Look Out for Other Corsairs-Bystander Intervention
A bystander or witness is anyone who sees a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation. Bystanders may or may not know what to do or may expect someone else to do something to help. Research shows that educating and engaging bystanders is a promising way to help prevent the problem of sexual violence within college communities.
Determining Whether There is a Problem
Knowing when to intervene is key to bystanders stepping up. Some signs to look for:
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Attempts to get someone drunk in order to “hook up”
• Attempts to physically separate a person in order to get him or her alone
• Intimately touching someone in public, especially if the people just met, or the other person is drunk
How to Intervene if There is a Problem
People may be in the midst of a violent situation but do not always admit that violence is happening. Some choose to ignore the situation, look away, or call it something else. No one has the right to be violent even if two people are dating. Examples of violence include: grabbing, hitting, pushing, yelling, or name calling, etc. Below are tips for initiating bystander interventions:
• Be Friendly. Be safe and remember that antagonism creates more antagonism. Be friendly and engage in non-confrontational dialogue.
• We’re Friends, Right...? This tactic reframes the intervention as caring and non-critical. For example, you may say: “Hey Alex.....as your friend, I’ve gotta tell you that getting someone drunk to have sex with them isn’t cool and it could get you in a lot of trouble. Don’t do it.”
• Talk to a Third Person. Find a friend of one of the two people and talk about your concerns. Get a friend to step in with one person while you step in with the other.
• Recruit Help. The more people you have around, the easier it may be to defuse the situation. There is safety and power in numbers.
This tactic is best used with someone who has a clear pattern of inappropriate behavior where many examples can be presented as evidence of his or her problem.
• Be Positively Intrusive. Ask both parties if they are okay. Engage in interesting conversation to break up the negative behavior. If you are in another room and the door is closed, knock on the door and ask for the person to come out.
• Distract. This snaps someone out of his or her “sexist comfort zone.” Take one person aside and talk to him or her about anything. For example, ask a man harassing a woman on the street for directions or the time. This allows a potential target to move away and/or to have other friends intervene. A way in which you could do this would be to spill your drink on the person or interrupt and start a conversation with the person. Your presence will help diffuse the situation. Interrupt. Knock on the door or just walk in. It’s better to interrupt a scene than stand around while someone is assaulted. Do anything to change the mood.
• Use “I” statements. State your feelings. Name the behavior. State how you want the person to respond. This focuses on your feelings rather than criticizing the other person. For example, you may say: “I feel __ when you __. Please don’t do that anymore.”
• Engage a “Silent Stare.” Remember, you don’t have to speak to communicate. Sometimes a disapproving look can be far more powerful than words.
• Use Humor. Humor reduces the tension of an intervention and makes it easier for the person to hear you. Do not undermine what you say with too much humor. Funny doesn’t mean unimportant.
• Bring it Home. Prevent someone from distancing him/herself from the impact of his/her actions. For example, you may say: “I hope no one ever talks about you like that.” This prevents someone from dehumanizing his or her target. Another example would be: “What if someone said your girlfriend or boyfriend deserved to be sexually assaulted?”
Bystander Intervention information was adapted from Virginia Tech, Smith College, and Colorado State University.
Campus & Community Resources
CHAPLAIN (CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING)
Campus Center, 2nd Floor
508.999.8872 or ext. 8872 when on campus
TITLE IX
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Foster Administration Room 307
508.999.8192
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION
Oak Glen Hall
508.999.8140
CENTER FOR WOMEN, GENDER & SEXUALITY
508.910.6965
MacLean Campus Center, 2nd Floor
COUNSELING CENTER
508.999.8648
After hours emergencies contact the Crisis line 508.999.HELP (4357)
HEALTH SERVICES (CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING)
Located across from Oak Glen Hall
508.999.8982
DARTMOUTH POLICE
1390 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA
508.910.1700 CALL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES
THE WOMEN’S CENTER
174 Union St. 4th Floor, New Bedford, MA
508.996.3343
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
543 North Street, New Bedford, MA
508.996.3154
NEW BEDFORD COUNSELING GROUP
306 Mount Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA
774.202.2939