Everyone has a role to play in building an inclusive and respectful campus environment.
Through education and training, members of the SMU community will learn what constitutes harassment and violence, how to intervene and respond when in such situations, and how to form and cultivate healthy relationships – on or off campus.
The training programme offered to students in an online module focuses on understanding consent, having respect for one another, fostering healthy relationships and active bystander intervention. In addition, students may also wish to download the e-guide linked below for more information on these topics. This will help create a safe space, free from fear or violence, for learning and working here at SMU.
Click here for online module Download E-GuideConsent and Respect: watch the video below to understand what this means.
Copyright ©2015 Emmeline May and Blue Seat Studios
Sexual consent means a person explicitly, willingly and voluntarily agrees to engage in sexual activity with the other; he/she must be free to make his/her own decision. There must not be any threat, intimidation, pressure or guilt-tripping to make one party commit to a sexual act.
If a person is mentally or physically incapacitated (so that he/she cannot understand the fact, nature or extent of the sexual situation), there is no consent; this includes conditions due to alcohol intoxication, drug consumption, being asleep or unconscious.
Consent must be clear. If it is not clear, the sexual act may be deemed as criminal.
All words, behaviours and circumstances of both parties are crucial in deciding whether consent exists.
Even if a party does not say “no”, it does not mean that there is consent; objection can be implied from the context and the relationship between the parties (e.g. if one party is threatened, coerced or forced against his/ her will to commit a sexual act).
Everyone has the right to say “no” at any point. Consent to some sexual acts (e.g. kissing, oral sex) does not imply consent to other sexual acts (e.g. penetration).
A person might consent to a sexual act at one point, but say “no” later. A person’s right to refrain, stop or object to a sexual act must be respected at any point.
Turning down a stranger that you just met
*The goal is to put as much physical distance between yourself and the person, get to a public space, and request for help
Turning down an acquaintance
Turning down the romantic interest of someone after a few dates
Initial anger and feelings of being lost are normal. Rather than acting out, you can reclaim the lost control in deciding how you handle the situation – with understanding, care, dignity and respect for the other party.