Sacramento State Staff, Students Praise Passage Of Law To Protect Against Sexual Assault
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A groundbreaking new California law will change the way college students have sex.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the new rule aimed at protecting students from sexual assaults on college campuses into law on Sunday. It also requires colleges to aggressively investigate sexual-assault reports.
The new law was a hot topic on campus at Sacramento State, where we quickly found out that a lot of the students and faculty already knew about the "Yes means Yes" legislation.
It's the first legislation in the country that requires people to verbally agree to a sexual encounter. It involves "an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement" before students have sex. It also says a "lack of resistance or silence cannot be interpreted as a yes."
It's aimed at protecting students who are drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep and cannot grant consent.
"Sexual assault should not be part of the college experience," said Sac State staff member Kim Harrington.
Staff members are working on educating students about the new legislation, especially freshmen.
Critics are concerned the new law sets up a murky, he said-she said situation, but activists say it's a place to start.
"I think a tremendous relief for parents who are worried about daughters on campuses," said Beth Hassett, executive director of Women Escaping A Violent Environment.
She says parents should also inform their daughters about predators lurking on campus.
"They're trying to make friends. They're trusting of people. And the predatory guys on campus are looking for them," she said. "So, I urge everybody to educate your daughters about the dangers of being drunk at parties on campus."
And your sons, because yes means yes applies to all students.
The law applies to all California post-secondary schools, public and private that receive state money for student financial aid.
