Affirmative Consent

Affirmative consent is informed, freely given, and mutually understood willingness to participate in sexual activity that is expressed by clear, unambiguous, and affirmative words or actions. Affirmative consent is subject to the following:

• • The person who wants to engage in sexual activity is responsible for ensuring that the other person has consented to the sexual activity.
  • Consent must be present throughout the entire sexual activity and can be revoked at any time.
  • If coercion, intimidation, threats, and/or physical force are used, there is no
  • If the person is mentally or physically incapacitated or impaired so that the complainant cannot understand the fact, nature, or extent of the sexual situation, there is no consent; this includes conditions due to alcohol or drug consumption, or being asleep or unconscious.
  • A lack of protest, absence of resistance, or silence alone does not constitute consent, and past consent to sexual activities does not imply ongoing future
  • The existence of a dating relationship between the people involved or the existence of a past sexual relationship does not prove the presence of, or otherwise provide the basis for, an assumption of consent.
  • Whether an individual has taken advantage of a position of influence over another person may be a factor in determining consent.

Highlighted Campus Resources: 

• Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX 
• Violence Awareness & Response Program
• Counseling Center  
• University Security

For additional resources both on and off campus, visit  Equal Opportunity and Title IX Resources.