At the Washington Square campus in New York, a great deal of focus is placed on sexual conduct training to promote NYU’s zero-tolerance stand on sexual misconduct. NYU employs several methods to emphasize prevention and education on the topics of sexual misconduct and its related issues. The university holds events year-round to ensure that resources and knowledge are available to members of the NYU community at all times. In the academic year 2014-2015, NYU launched several new initiatives to make its community members more aware about sexual misconduct and provide support services for all sexually related incidents:

The launch of “Think About It,” an online education module about sexual consent and conduct, mandatory for all incoming students at all three portal campuses;

The requirement of all RAs, Club and Greek Leaders, Admission Ambassadors, and Varsity Athletes at the New York campus to undergo training in the bystander intervention techniques;

The establishment of theCenter for Sexual Misconduct Support Services;

The introduction of a new website “Sexual Respect,” where information can be found on the university’s policies, procedures, and resources to deal with sexual misconduct.

NYU recently launched theAction Zone Bystander Intervention Training initiative, a series of workshops that take place all year round and explore the famous bystander effect, specifically in relation to situations involving sexual consent and assault. Called “Action Zone” for short, the workshops provide participants with the knowledge and ability to intervene in situations that could potentially lead to or be interpreted as sexual assault, such as substance-induced incidents. The goal of the program is to protect the members of the NYU community by offering knowledge on when to intervene, and by creating a safer atmosphere to ensure the physical and mental wellness of all.One of the most emphasized concepts in these trainings is the definition of affirmative consent, which is clearly defined in NYU’s official policy onSexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking policy as “a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity.” While concepts like sexuality and virginity are often subject to personal definition, NYU makes it clear in their policy that “the definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression” Moreover, while affirmative consent can be given by words or actions, it can also be withdrawn at any point in time. Examples of sexual exploitation and misconduct include voyeurism, the use of pictures or videos of sexual nature without affirmative consent, and the use of alcohol or drugs for the purpose of making someone vulnerable to non-consensual sexual activity. “A person is incapacitated when they lack the ability to make informed, rational judgments and therefore cannot consent to sexual activity” – as it is said on the Square, consent is the presence of a yes, rather than the absence of a no. The NYU policy stresses the importance of verbal clarification and not making assumptions; it is also important to remember that prior consent does not imply future consent.Groups all around NYU and its three campuses can request to host an Action Zone session. This has been taken advantage of by several clubs, teams, and organizations in NYU including, but not limited to, Welcome Week Leaders, Residence Hall groups, different fraternities and clubs, and NYU’s individual colleges including NYU Abu Dhabi.NYU Shanghai has to yet to join the list of NYU groups who have hosted Action Zone training. However, considering the mix of Shanghai’s vibrant nightlife, and China’s relatively lax alcohol laws, which allow such substances to be purchased and obtained easily, perhaps a training program like Action Zone is exactly what our community needs. While programs like “Think About It” ensure that knowledge about sexual conduct and consent are pervasive and available to each student, the importance of such concepts is not often acknowledged until a real life situation calls for it. So how prepared are NYU Shanghai students when it comes to intervening in a challenging situation? While these topics are discussed during Ally Week and Health and Wellness’s annual Wellness Fair Expo, the dialogue on these issues can still improve. NYU Shanghai’s small community size is an advantage as a large percentage of students are involved in multiple aspects of student life on campus; perhaps groups should be allowed to request an Action Zone training session for its members, whether it be the Orientation Ambassadors, a sports team, or an on-campus club. Ultimately, the importance of knowledge about sexual consent and misconduct can only be as acknowledged as it is present.*************************************************************************************Information to report an incident at any of NYU’s global sites can be found athttps://www.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu/compliance/documents/SexualMisconductResourceGuideforStudents.9.30.15.pdfAdditional resources for NYU students and employees can be found athttps://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/sexual-respect/sexual-misconduct-relationship-violence-and-stalking-policy.html

More information on NYU’s policy, procedures, and resources can be found out NYU’s specialized “Sexual Respect” websitehttp://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/sexual-respect.htmlTo receive any assistance at NYU Shanghai following an incident of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, or stalking, students can utilize the following methods:

Use any of NYU’s global services

Approach Health and Wellness Center on the sixth floor of the NYU Shanghai Academic Building, which also has a designated bilingual mental health counselor

For off-campus treatment, students can go to Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics on 1139 Xianxia Road Changning (or through +86-21-2216-3900) which offers 24-hour medical and counseling services

Consult with staff at theCenter for Sexual Misconduct Support Services

Contact the 24-hour hotline NYU Wellness Exchange 2059-9999

Approach any of the NYU Shanghai Student Life team, including David Pe, Judy Li and the Resident Assistants, who receive relevant training at the start of each school year

This article was written by Lathika Chandra Mouli. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: NYU