Sexual Violence
Sexual Misconduct
According to Winthrop University's Student
Conduct Code, sexual misconduct will not be tolerated in the
Winthrop community. Sexual misconduct can occur in many
relationships and may involve sexual assault, sexual harassment,
relationship violence, and stalking. This behavior interferes
with the educational mission by:
Endangering the physical and emotional
safety of community members;
Damaging trust in the community;
Offending the dignity and violating the
autonomy of community members; and
Disrupting the academic progress of victims
or survivors during their recovery.
Sexual Assault
Winthrop University's Student Conduct Code defines sexual
assault "as any unwanted sexual acts that involve
threats, physical force, intimidation or deception. Sexual
assault can be defined as one or more of the following:
a. Offensive Touching: The touching of an
unwilling persons intimate parts; touching an unwilling person
with ones own intimate parts; causing an unwilling person to
touch anothers intimate parts.
b. Non-Consensual Sexual Assault: Unwilling
or non consensual penetration of any bodily
opening with any objects or body part.
c. Forced Sexual Assault: Requires the use of
physical force and/or penetration. Coercion, the
threat of immediate physical harm, the restriction of movement,
and/or the administration of a drug, intoxicant or a physical
substance that impairs the faculties of a person would all
constitute forced sexual assault."
Consent
According to Winthrop University's Student conduct code,
"Consent is the equal approval, given freely, willingly, and
knowingly by each participant to desired sexual involvement.
Consent is an affirmative, conscious decision - indicated
clearly by words or actions to engage in mutually accepted
sexual contact."
Setting the Stage for Sexual Violence
Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Sex
Alcohol and other drugs can:
- inhibit clear thinking
- make talking and listening more difficult
- increase one's risk or vulnerability to sexual violence
- decrease an individual's ability to provide consent to sexual activity
Alcohol and other drugs are not the cause of sexual violence; aggression and power are at the root of
it. However, alcohol and other drugs
increase your vulnerability for sexual violence to occur because of the reasons
listed above.
Healthy sexual activity is based on clear, conscious verbal and nonverbal communication in which both parties assume sex will not take
place until consent is given. Alcohol and other drugs cloud the ability of both parties to provide this form of communication. In many states, laws require
that someone must be sober in order to give true consent. Also, being drunk or high is never a justification for sexual violence.
During unhealthy sexual activity, a person assumes "I have access to sex until my partner says no or pushes me away." Alcohol and other
drugs can impede your ability to say no or physically resist and may result in unwanted sexual activity.
During illegal sex, a person assumes "I have access to sex no matter what." Alcohol and other drugs are often used to avoid the possibility
that an individual will resist sex, therefore making access to sex easy.
Drug-facilitated Sexual Assault
Alcohol is the most common substance used in sexual assault. However, certain drugs
like Rohypnol, GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate), and Ketamine are sometimes mixed in drinks (alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages) and given to an individual without her/his knowledge. Most of these substances
are tasteless, colorless, and odorless. They generate extreme drowsiness, sudden fatigue, confusion, and, in the case of Rohypnol, memory loss. Someone under
the influence of alcohol or other drugs is at increased risk for sexual assault because of her/his inability to fight back.
Ways to Stay Safe
- At a party or bar, accept drinks only from a bartender/server; do not leave drinks unattended; and do not accept open container drinks from anyone
- If you or a friend feel intoxicated or disoriented after only a few sips of
your drink, go immediately to a safe place with someone you trust.
- Make a pact with a friend that you will not leave each other. Make sure
you keep an eye on each other all night.
We are here to support you, no matter the circumstances.