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Sexual Violence Prevention and Response
When It's Seen - Intervene
Baird Point illuminated in purple as UB recognizes Domestic Violence Action Month in October.
Everyone can make a difference in preventing sexual violence on campus. Resources are available for students, faculty and staff.
Sexual violence is any sexual activity in which consent is not obtained and freely given. It doesn’t matter if you know the person or not — they could be someone you’re in a relationship with, a friend, a classmate, someone in your residence hall or a stranger.
Types of sexual violence include:
- Unwanted touching
- Dating violence
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexual harassment
- Non-consensual image sharing or "revenge porn"
- Rape
- Relationship abuse
- Stalking
What is Consent
A critical part of every healthy sexual experience is consent. You should always make sure that any sexual activity is consensual. Just because they don’t say “no” does not mean “yes.”
Consent is a knowing, voluntary and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions provide clear permission about a person’s willingness to engage in the sexual activity.
You need consent every time, with everyone.
- Just because someone is silent or doesn’t resist does not mean that they consent to the activity
- Consent cannot be given when it is the result of any coercion, intimidation, force or threat of harm
- Consent cannot be given when someone is incapacitated
- Consent doesn’t vary based upon a participant’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression
- Just because someone consented to one sexual act (including previous sexual activity with anyone) doesn’t mean they consent to another sexual act
- If the person initiating the act is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, you still need their consent
- Even if someone gives consent initially, they can withdraw it at any time
Why is Consent Important?
Navigating consent is a critical skill for interacting with others. When it comes to sexual intimacy, consent helps you make sure that you and your partners are happy and comfortable.
Non-consensual sexual activity violates UB policy and is against the law, carrying serious consequences. Additionally, non-consensual sexual activity can cause significant and lasting emotional and physical impacts. One of the best ways to determine if someone is okay with any situation, especially a sexual one, is to simply ask them.
Using Alcohol or Other Drugs?
When consent is withdrawn or can no longer be given, sexual activity must stop.
If your partner is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, they may not have the capacity to give consent to sexual activity. For a number of reasons, sex is better, and safer, when sober. If someone hurts you or takes advantage of you when you’re vulnerable due to using alcohol or other drugs, it is not your fault.
Sex is better sober. Avoid alcohol and other drugs for a better, safer sexual experience.
Support After an Unwanted Sexual Experience
If you or someone you know needs support dealing with the emotional, physical or legal challenges of surviving a sexual assault or other unwanted sexual experience, we can help you.
Be a NOBULL Bystander
We all have a role to play in making UB a safe environment to live, learn, and explore. Being an empowered bystander can help us move from standing by to stepping up. It’s not always easy, but each of us can help in our own way, and we can learn skills to help in safer and more effective ways.
Five Steps to Successful Bystander Intervention
Helping is about five separate decisions:
- Notice the Event: Be aware of your surroundings, and watch for warning signs.
- Interpret the Event as a Problem: If something is unclear, clear it up. Don’t just brush it off.
- Assume Personal Responsibility: Don’t assume someone else will help.
- Know How To Help: Learn direct and indirect ways to help.
- Implement the Help: Choose the safest, most appropriate strategy and step up.
Three D's of Bystander Intervention
- Direct: Directly address the problem behavior.
- Distract: Anything that safely distracts someone enough to discontinue the problem behavior.
- Delegate: If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe intervening, delegate the intervention to someone more appropriate.
Five Reasons Why We Intervene
- It’s the right thing to do
- I would want someone to help me in that situation
- Someone needed help
- People should look out for each other
- So the situation wouldn’t escalate
Take the Next Step
Help make UB a safer place to live, work, and learn. Take the training to be an empowered bystander or join our nationally-recognized team of student leaders.
Take our Peer Education Course, UBE 110, and become a Nationally Certified Health & Wellness Peer Educator.
Request a Bystander Intervention Training for your club, organization, or area, or attend our next scheduled training.
Support After an Unwanted Sexual Experience
If you or someone you know needs support dealing with the emotional, physical or legal challenges of surviving a sexual assault or other unwanted sexual experience, we can help you.
Good Samaritan Policy
The Good Samaritan Policy eliminates disciplinary consequences for you and the people you are with if you call for help when drinking or using drugs. The health and safety of UB students is our first priority.
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