Affirmative Consent Law Research Paper

Emma Sulkowicz, a junior at Colmbia University shares her experience of being raped. “I was raped the first day of my sophomore year. I was screaming “no” and struggling against him. He was turned on by my distress. I didn’t report it at first, but then I met two other women who said the same person had assaulted them. I had to do something. We all reported our cases, and all three were dismissed” (Time 28). Seven months later Emma and her friends had a hearing but after a trial by the dean of the school , the accused was not found guilty. Not happy with the fact that their rapist was still roaming the campus, Emma and her friends once again appealed but because the case was given to the same dean they were denied. The experience Emma and the two other women suffered doesn’t only happen at Columbia University. The problem sexual assault is one that is continuously facing

Because this law is fairly recent, the effect its going to have on the way campuses determine rape cases is not evident. However if the affirmative consent law is applied, it will clarify what behavior is acceptable and not when involved in sexual interaction. Katha Pollitt puts it best when she says, “What’s good about “yes means yes” is less how it will change what takes place in courtrooms or campus disciplinary proceedings, and more how it will become part of our evolving understanding of appropriate sexual behavior. Basically, affirmative consent means both partners have to express their wishes in a way that the other partner can grasp”(Pollitt, 8). Like Pollitt says, this law will help because both parties will need to be aware of whats happening. No longer will it be ok to have sex with someone who is so drunk they won’t remember consenting to it the following day. Implementing this law on college campuses will be a step in redefining what rape