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Stalking
means repeated, unwanted attention; physical, verbal, or
electronic contact; or any other course of conduct directed at an
individual that is sufficiently serious to cause physical, emotional,
or psychological fear or to create a hostile, intimidating, or abusive
environment for a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with
similar identities. Stalking may involve individuals who are known to one
another or who have a current or previous relationship or may involve
individuals who are strangers.
Retaliation
means intimidating, threatening, coercing, or discriminating
against an individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or
privilege secured by law or College policy relating to sexual misconduct,
or because an individual has made a report, filed a complaint, testified,
assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation or proceeding
related to sexual misconduct. Retaliation includes retaliatory harassment.
Consent
means a knowing, voluntary, and affirmatively communicated
willingness to participate in a particular sexual activity or behavior. Only
a person who has the ability and capacity to exercise free will and make
a rational, reasonable judgment can give consent. Consent may be
expressed either by words and/or actions, as long as those words and/or
actions create a mutually understandable agreement to engage in specific
sexual activity. It is the responsibility of the person who wants to engage
in sexual activity to ensure that he/she has consent from the other party,
and that the other party is capable of providing consent.
• Lack of protest or resistance is not consent. Silence, in and of itself,
cannot be interpreted as consent. For that reason, relying solely on
non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstanding.
• Previous relationships, including past sexual relationships, do not
imply consent to future sexual acts.
• Consent to one form of sexual activity does not automatically imply
consent to other forms of sexual activity.
• Consent must be present throughout sexual activity and may be
withdrawn at any time. If there is confusion as to whether there is
consent or whether prior consent has been withdrawn, it is essential
that the participants stop the activity until the confusion is resolved.
• Consent cannot be obtained by use of physical force, threats,
intimidating behavior, or coercion.