6. Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, Coercion and Consent Defined

a. Sexual Assault

“Sexual assault” means an offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program.


“Rape” means penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

“Fondling” means the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

“Incest” means sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.

 

“Statutory rape” means sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent (16 years old).

b. Dating Violence

“Dating violence” means violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

 

For the purpose of complying with the requirements of this Section and 34 CFR 668.41, any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purpose of Clery Act reporting.

c. Domestic Violence

“Domestic violence” means felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.

d. Stalking

“Stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct on the basis of sex directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.

e. Coercion

“Coercion” means the intent to compel a person to do or abstain from doing an act that the person has the right to do or abstain from doing through words, conduct or pressure by:

  • the use of violence or threats of violence against a person or the person’s family or property;
  • depriving or hindering a person in the use of any tool, implement or clothing;
  • attempting to intimidate a person by threats or force;
  • compelling another individual to initiate or continue sexual activity against an individual’s will; or
  • threatening to “out” someone based on sexual orientation, gender, identity, or gender expression and threatening to harm oneself if the other party does not engage in the sexual activity.

Coercion can include a wide range of behaviors, including intimidation, manipulation, threats, and blackmail.

f. Consent

Conduct is unwelcome if it is done in the absence of consent.

 

“Consent” means an affirmative, clear, unambiguous, knowing, informed, and voluntary agreement between all participants to engage in sexual activity.

  • Consent is active, not passive. Silence or lack of resistance cannot be interpreted as consent.
  • Seeking and having consent accepted is the responsibility of the person(s) initiating each specific sexual act regardless of whether the person initiating the act is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
  • The existence of a dating relationship or past sexual relations between the participants does not constitute consent to any other sexual act.
  • Affirmative consent must be ongoing throughout the sexual activity and may be withdrawn at any time. When consent is withdrawn or cannot be given, sexual activity must stop.
  • Consent cannot be given when it is the result of any coercion, intimidation, force, deception, or threat of harm.
  • Consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated. Incapacitation occurs when an individual lacks the ability to fully, knowingly choose to participate in sexual activity. Incapacitation includes impairment due to drugs or alcohol (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary); inability to communicate due to a mental or physical condition; the lack of consciousness or being asleep; being involuntarily restrained; if any of the parties are under the age of 16; or if an individual otherwise cannot consent.
  • The definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.