I Heart Consent
Next Monday, 9th March, from 13:00 – 16:00 in EEG089, the NUS National Women’s Officer, Susuana Antubam, will be delivering an information and training session, in conjunction with the SU’s Women’s Officer, Chantal Vinyard. The aim of the workshop is to give students and staff a clear understanding of what sexual consent is and to facilitate conversations about why consent is so important.
This workshop is open for any interested student or member of staff.
NUS women's campaign and Sexpression UK have come together to create a consent educational programme which aims to facilitate positive, informed and inclusive conversations and campaigns about consent in universities and colleges across the UK.
In the UK, sexual consent is not currently a fundamental part of mainstream sex education; consequently the message of consent as an essential part of sexual interactions is not properly communicated. It is important that people are properly informed of consent, respecting other peoples' boundaries and not being ashamed of willingly engaging in or rejecting sexual activity.
Learning about consent is also vital to identifying sexual assault and supporting survivors of sexual assault by outlining and understanding that sexual activity without consent is a crime for which only the perpetrator can be to blame.
Changing the way in which we educate on this subject would also help alleviate the problems of the emerging University LAD culture that is often to blame for incorrect understandings of sexual consent and instances of sexual harassment and rape.
Campaign aim
To tackle myths, misunderstandings and problematic perspectives about rape, sexual consent and sexual harassment, and educate Sussex students on these issues.
‘I Heart Consent’ aims to create a healthy understanding of consent; sexual activity which is sought enthusiastically, rather than viewed as the beginning of a negotiation.