Consent Day promotes discussion on consensual sex
After receiving multiple campus-wide blitzes advertising free tank tops, sunshine and candy,dozens of students flocked to the Collis Porch after 10As on Thursday to Dartmouth’s fourth annualConsentDay, an event designed to further campus discussion about consensual sex in a lighthearted atmosphere.
Before students could add yet another piece of clothing gear to their 13X memorabilia collection,they were required to pass through fiveConsentDaybooths, each led by a different organizationon campus.
Sigma Delta sorority’s booth promoted “consentat every step” by blindfolding an individual while a friend guided him or her through an obstacle course, asking permission before touching or directing the individual.
At the Men’s Forum table, students were shown pictures of two celebrities and asked to describewhat made one more of a “real man.” After writing down words such as “attractive,” “powerful,”“promiscuous” and “aggressive” on a poster board, individuals were then urged to considerthe qualities that defined the strongest man in their lives and write these on a separate posterboard. These traits included “intelligent,” “supportive,” “caring” and “stable,” highlightingthe dissonance between society’s perception of a real man and the qualities we respect andappreciate.
The event also included more practical and health-related advice. Staff members of thedepartment of student health promotion and wellness freely distributed Blood Alcohol Content charts, lube and condoms--among piles of candy.
Office manager Carissa Dowd said, “I think the more these things get brought out into the openand talked about and normalized, you’ll see good come from that. It’s just another way to reachpeople with a good message.”
At Green Team’s booth, students had to uncover a condom among a pile of candy and then rate a situation typically involving alcohol and sex on a scale ranging from low to high risk.
After participating in a few of these events, students received a T-shirt reading, “Consensual sexis hot.”
AboutConsentDay, Allie Brouckman ’15 said, “I think it’s a great awareness program. It’ssomething that everyone knows about, but doesn't really talk about. It’s nice to get out here in a friendly, open, bright space.”
The Department of Student Health Promotion and Wellness has one event each term, with ConsentDay as its central summer activity.
One of theConsentDayplanners Emily Brody-Bizar ’15 advised next year’s executivecommittee to focus on funding earlier on. The event, a product of the Sexual Abuse AwarenessProgram’s efforts, was sponsored by Special Programs and Events Committee, Phi Delta Alphafraternity, Hillel, the Center for Gender and Student Engagement, the Department of StudentHealth Promotion and Wellness and the President’s Office.