Consent is:
Since individuals may experience the same interaction in different ways, it is the
responsibility of each party to determine that the other has consented before engaging
in the activity.
If consent is not clearly provided prior to engaging in the activity, consent may
be ratified by word or action at some point during the interaction or thereafter,
but clear communication from the outset is strongly encouraged.
For consent to be valid, there must be a clear expression in words or actions that
the other individual consented to that specific sexual conduct. Reasonable reciprocation
can be implied. For example, if someone kisses you, you can kiss them back (if you
want to) without the need to explicitly obtain their consent to being kissed back.
Consent can also be withdrawn once given, as long as the withdrawal is reasonably
and clearly communicated. If consent is withdrawn, that sexual activity should cease
within a reasonable time.
Consent to some sexual contact (such as kissing or fondling) cannot be presumed to
be consent for other sexual activity (such as intercourse). A current or previous
intimate relationship is not sufficient to constitute consent.
Proof of consent or non-consent is not a burden placed on either party involved in
an incident. Instead, the burden remains on Naropa University to determine whether
its policy has been violated. The existence of consent is based on the totality of
the circumstances evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person in the same
or similar circumstances, including the context in which the alleged incident occurred
and any similar, previous patterns that may be evidenced.
Consent in relationships must also be considered in context. When parties consent
to BDSM9 or other forms of kink, non-consent may be shown by the use of a safe word. Resistance,
force, violence, or even saying “no” may be part of the kink and thus consensual,
so Naropa University’s evaluation of communication in kink situations should be guided
by reasonableness, rather than strict adherence to policy that assumes non-kink relationships
as a default.
