You can take an active role in increasing your own personal safety, the safety of those you care about, as well as others around you. While there's no way to eliminate the chance that something may happen, there are strategies that may reduce your risk or help you have the confidence to take steps to prevent sexual harassment.
Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. It must be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific. It also must be given by someone 18 or older, and is not mentally and/or physically incapacitated.
Giving consent for one activity is not giving consent for other activities.
If there was no clear, knowing, or voluntary words or actions, consent was not given. Consent can only be given by someone who is active and participating. If someone is incapacitated (drunk, using drugs, mentally and/or physically incapacitated), they cannot give consent.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time and the other person involved must respect that. Communicate with your partner that you are not comfortable and would like to stop.
When meeting someone new for the first few times…
Don’t give them your address to pick you up for the date—drive yourself. Otherwise they will know where you live.
Meet somewhere public and stay in public places.
Don’t get in their vehicle and let them take you out of a public setting until you trust them.
Tell someone where you are going, who you are meeting, and when you will be back. This can be a friend, roommate, or family member. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency exit plan with that person in place.
If you feel uncomfortable with your date, it is okay to end your date and leave. Be direct and don’t let them talk you into something you feel uncomfortable with. If you’re not comfortable with that and want to leave, it’s okay to "make something up" like saying that you don’t feel well, or you have to meet someone at a specific time, or take a phone call.
If you feel like you need assistance you can ask others for their help. You could ask the server at the restaurant or another person for their help. You are never obligated to stay in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, pressured, or threatened.
While you’re on campus, it’s easy to have a sense of security and safety. It’s almost a feeling that everyone is part of a courteous campus community and watches out for others. While UVU is recognized as one of the safest campuses in Utah, unfortunately there are people who take advantage of this and commit acts of sexual violence.
We can all take steps to increase safety on our campus. Faculty, staff, and students can learn ways to increase the chances to avoid or to prevent sexual assault and other crimes from occurring. When it comes to our personal safety, there are some steps each of us can take and those are outlined below. While there is no way to absolutely guarantee safety, sexual violence can happen to anyone whether on or off campus. Please remember, if you are sexually assaulted, it is not your fault. Here are some ideas to consider that may reduce your risk for many different types of crimes, particularly sexual violence.
Lock your doors and windows when you’re asleep and when you leave your room or apartment. Be aware of your valuable items such as electronics and ensure you keep them in safe and secure places. If you have a car, lock your doors and windows. Do not leave items in your car, even for a few minutes. Doing so may invite someone to break into your vehicle.
You can relax and have a good time while still making safety a priority! Whether it's hanging out with friends, going to a party, attending an activity or event, please consider the following about staying safe and looking out for others in social settings.
What you choose to share on social media is always your decision, but what others choose to do with your information is not always under your control. Be proactive about personal safety regarding social media on your online presence.
Remember the internet is a pen. What you do, what you access and what you post is recorded, stored, and tracked. You should always remember that your social media and online activities are creating a digital history that may be recalled at any time in the future, to your potential benefit or detriment depending on your activities and those of other people in your social circles.