Time to talk to your college bound student
It can be encouraging for parents to know that developing and supporting healthy relationships is critical to preventing sexual assault. Talk to your son or daughter about the five keys to healthy relationships — Respect, Learn, Empower, Consent, and Communicate — so they can contribute to a positive campus culture for themselves and their peers.
• Respect: promote and model healthy attitudes and relationships
• Learn: access credible information and resources to promote your overall health
• Empower: everyone has the right to set limits, feel safe, and get support
• Consent: seek mutual agreement without fear or pressure
• Communicate: express yourself to partners, peers, and family
Consent is one of the most important elements of any healthy sexual relationship. Sex without consent isn’t sex. It’s assault. Here’s what you can tell your son or daughter about consent:
• Consent is voluntary, mutual, and can be withdrawn at any time.
• Past consent does not mean current or future consent.
• There is no consent when there is force, intimidation, or coercion.
• There is no consent if a person is mentally or physically incapacitated or impaired because one cannot understand the fact, nature, or extent of the sexual situation, including due to alcohol or other drugs.
