Presentation on sexual assault given at ENMU

Recognizing consent, or the lack of it, is a vital ingredient in the prevention of sexual assault, according to a representative of a local resource center.

ARISE Sexual Assault Services Outreach Specialist ShaTerra Norris, speaking Wednesday afternoon in the Eastern New Mexico University Campus Union Building's Sandia Room, laid out for an audience - primarily made up of college students - the steps to prevent sexual assault and support victims.

"It's important to know that consent is always sober. If you're drunk and somebody else is drunk, neither of you can consent. It's consistent, so just because you've had sex with somebody before does not mean they want to have sex with you next week. It's not always vocal. Just because someone doesn't say no, it doesn't mean they're saying yes," she said.

Norris emphasized that being an 'active bystander' goes a great length toward preventing untoward sexual behavior.

"If you see someone engaging in inappropriate behavior with another person, it's OK to intervene. It's OK if you want to step in and say, 'Hey, that's not cool. I don't think you should be doing that to her or to him,'" said Norris.

In the event that a person is approached by a victim of sexual assault, she noted that there is much a person can do, even if the individual does not want to report the incident to ARISE.

"If you do happen to receive a disclosure from a friend about a sexual assault, or if you know that something happened to them, we want to make sure that you know the primary focus is to concentrate on that person," she said. "We want to encourage them to talk about the assault with someone they trust. Some people aren't a fan of counseling services. That's fine, but it's always great to vocalize how people feel, and get those feelings and emotions out."

Norris also ran through the free and confidential services that ARISE offers to victims, including medical exams after the assault, a 24-hour hotline that connects victims with advocates, and counseling services that are offered regardless of when an assault occurred.

"That's something that we really push for people, especially for college students," she said. "Sometimes people are assaulted before they come to college, and they never got a chance to see anyone when they were at home, they didn't feel comfortable disclosing to their parents, or they just didn't know where to go."

Norris advised individuals on how to protect themselves.

"Be assertive about your boundaries. If you're a male or a female, no means no and yes means yes. Trust your instincts. If there's ever an uneasy feeling, or you're not comfortable in a situation, always go with your gut instinct. Be respectful, and support a safe community," she said.