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Written by: Jon McColgan
It’s no secret that college life puts sex into the forefront of its students’ lifestyles, and with this sexual push, Student Affairs staff is once again coming together to produce the popular Consent Day initiative, set this year for April 8, from 2-5 p.m. of the Greenspace.
Consent Day, a type of fun activity fair where participants play games that help educate the players about the importance of consensual sex and the feelings, thoughts and opinions of their potential partners, was well-attended success in its inaugural year last April.
“The goal of the program is remaining the same as last year: teach Bentley students that the best sex is safe, consensual sex,” said Tony Martin, assistant director of Residence Life and co-chair of the Consent Day committee.
What students particularly enjoyed about the event last year was the free T-shirt handed out to those participants who completed the games of a given number of stations. After receiving the stamp of approval from the stations, you were eligible to receive a shirt and sign the pledge banner (Editor’s note: this banner is pictured on the Front Page).
The shirts were an instant hit, as an unscientific poll of 750 random Bentley students conducted by The Vanguard revealed that the Consent Day shirts are considered the best shirt they’ve received at an event while at Bentley by 78 percent of those polled, trumping Spring Day shirts, which received 11 percent of the vote.
One sophomore student noted on his form, “The Consent Day shirt because it grabs your attention with SEX right across it, and made a good point in a college humor way,” while a female senior stated, “The shirt was entertaining and good looking. It was definitely one of Bentley’s better successes in my four years here.”
I still see students wear our T-shirts from last year–the message is continuously being promoted. As a result, we consider this event to be a new campus tradition and are pleased to have the support of Student Affairs and the greater community,” said Jessica Greher, assistant director of Wellness.
This year, we are fortunate that Consent Day also falls around the same time as Take Back the Night,” continued Greher. “Together these two community initiatives promote an environment that fosters individual empowerment and a culture where sexual assault and misconduct are not accepted.”
This year Martin and Greher have steered the event into being more sustainable, eliminating the thick booklets students were handed last year with a flipbook to be distributed campus-wide electronically and vinyl banners that can be every year rather than making disposable paper signs.
Also, the committee decided to include more student input in terms of the Consent Day 2010 logo displayed the T-shirt, banners & signage.
“Ten students proposed their ideas and the committee unanimously selected Prerana Bhounsle’s designs. This is a great opportunity for a student to provide input into an event that has such a broad reach,” said Greher.
A number of campus organizations, both professional and student, lend a hand in producing the event, including the Center for Health & Wellness, Student Life, Residence Life, the class cabinets, RHA, PRIDE, La Cultura Latina, Judicial Board, The Vanguard, STEP, BUB, the CSD Peer Educators, the Women’s Center, SGA and Greek Life.
“We had a very well attended program of over 500 students last year, and student involvement was fantastic,” said Martin. “If we can sustain the event, we will hopefully have a bigger budget and make a great event a can’t-miss annual experience.”
T-shirts will be handed out as students complete the activities, and only the first 500 students will receive a shirt, so students should get there early to have some fun, learn about sex and get a free shirt that students consider the best you can get.
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