In a new campaign to fight sexual violence, UC Davis emphasizes “consent” and calls on each and every one of us in the campus community to be an “upstander,” not a bystander.

The campaign defines “consent” as follows: “Consent is an affirmative, unambiguous and conscious decision to participate in a mutally agreed upon sexual act. Consent can be revoked at any time. Consent is not possible when a person is incapacitated, forced,

threatened or intimidated.”

The campaign defines “upstander” as “an individual who takes action to assist others to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking,” and, in dictionary format, finishes the definition with this: “See also, Aggie” — reminding Aggies that we all need to be upstanders.

"UC Davis I think can be a tremendous leader in this area because we have a community of individuals of faculty, staff and students as well as our leadership that are really committed to making a difference,” said Adela de la Torre, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

Open the video for Vice Chancellor de la Torre’s conversation with Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and two students: Sam Alavi, director, ASUCD Office of Advocacy and Student Representation; and Ralph Washington Jr., chair, Graduate Student Assembly.

Chancellor Katehi said: “Sexual assault has become an epidemic on U.S. campuses. One in four women has experienced some type of sexual assault.

“I think the institution this year needs to get seriously engaged in an outreach to our students, faculty and staff to make sure that we truly eradicate this problem.”

Alavi said: “Students are always asking, ‘What can we do to make this easier, to make it better, to prevent sexual assault?’ And I think a big part of teaching students how to be an upstander is really giving them the specific skills and resources. And really start talking about the importance of being an upstander and preventing sexual assault.”

It might be as simple as giving someone a CARE card and saying there are resources where you can help yourself, or it might be directly intervening, Washington said.

Katehi, de la Torre, Alavi and Washington co-signed an email message distributed campuswide today (Nov. 3). “UC Davis is a national and global leader in many areas,” they wrote. “Now is the time for us to lead in another area: ending sexual violence in our campus communities.”

Resources

• Sexual violence prevention and response
• CARE — Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education: Advocacy Office for Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Sexual Misconduct (emergency response 24 hours a day, seven days a week) is the on-campus, confidential resource for all students, staff and faculty who have experienced any form of sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic/dating violence and stalking. 
• Resources for victims of sexual violence
• How to help a friend who has been the victim of sexual violence
• If you have been accused of sexual violence

Download a printable copy of a brochure summarizing UC Davis’ sexual violence support services and reporting options.

Earlier Dateline coverage: "Violence prevention office carries on as CARE" (Jan. 27, 2015)

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