The incredibly powerful letter the Stanford rape victim wrote to her attacker has been seen by millions around the world. Her words are honest, impactful, and truly shed light on an issue that to this day has yet to find a solution. That issue is consent. We talk about it on college campuses but the conversation is usually kept light and easy because of how serious the topic is. Talking about sexual situations can be uncomfortable for many people. But when it comes to discussing consent and sexual violence, it is crucial that the conversation follow a serious tone because it's not a joke. Waking up in a hospital with serious bodily harm and no recollection of what happened the night before is not a joke. It wasn't a joke to the Stanford victim and it still isn't a joke to her now.
Consent is defined by Merriam-Webster as: to agree to do or allow something : to give permission for something to happen or be done.
If you still don't understand that definition, watch this video made by the Thames Valley Police in the UK.
It's the simplest explanation of consent. Maybe Brock Turner should watch this video since he clearly doesn't understand the definition even after a year of trial.
Alcohol is usually the scape goat of many sexual assault cases, especially on college campuses. It was Turner's excuse and I'm sure it is the excuse for many other attackers. While alcohol does lower inhibitions, it is not an excuse to sexually assault someone. Think about it this way. If you assault someone and they press charges, Burnett's and Skyy aren't going to pay for your lawyer. They aren't going to send a representative to speak on your behalf, and they sure as hell aren't going to take the blame for your crime.
When someone commits sexual assault it is a decision made by that mind alone. That decision has an effect on another person's daily life. Their mental state will be altered forever by these actions. The relationship they have with everyone in their life will change completely because you didn't ask for their consent. There is a 50% percent chance someone will say no if you ask for consent. There is a 50% chance someone will say yes. You'll never know the true answer unless you ASK. If you ask and that person can't respond in plain english or any other language then you shouldn't be asking in the first place. You should be finding someone they know/came with, a safe ride home, or calling an ambulance if they're completely unresponsive.
Consent isn't a joke. Sexual violence isn't a joke. It's 2016, and if you don't know that by now then you're part of the problem.
