Gender panel discusses consent culture on campus

This week on April 1, CSB+SJU students were invited to attend a discussion panel that discussed campus sexual violence and initiatives our community can take to address the challenges of sex culture and consent borders.

The event was held in Upper Gorecki from 6-7 p.m. with panelists from the Gender Studies, Psychology, Sociology, History and Theology departments with the inclusion of speakers from the Anna Marie’s Alliance and the Central MN Sexual Assault Center.

The panelists for this event include Majel Baker, Jake Jantzer, Shannon Smith, Tamara Hennes-Vix and Bri Cornell with Emily Esch as moderator.

The discussion aimed to bring attention to contributors of college sexual violence such as cultural messages around sexual scripts and notable survey response statistics regarding consent boundaries.

According to Baker, the predicament of sexual scripts being a factor in gender norms and behavior has been consistently noticed as a driving force for nonconsensual sexual activity and unhealthy gender conformity.

Baker, a Psychology and Gender Studies professor at CSB+SJU, also spoke on the overwhelming statistics of occurring sexual violence in relation to the legal definition of sexual assault.

“Sexual violence on college campuses is disgustingly common,” Baker said. “27.5% of college women confessed they have experienced the legal definition of sexual assault.”

Cornell said regarding sex culture, the conversation of bystander intervention training and appropriate ways to handle cases of assault or sexual harassment is an integral piece.

Cornell, a Volunteer Advocate Program Supervisor for the Central MN Sexual Assault Center, provided appropriate bystander intervention techniques such as distract, delegate, delay, direct and document.

According to Hennes-Vix, sexual violence and abuse doesn’t solely occur between strangers either; it can take place within intimate relationships as well.

Hennes-Vix, Manager of Community Services at Anna Marie’s Alliance, also brought up the fact that abuse isn’t only physical and may impact victims emotionally, financially, spiritually and sexually.

Hennes-Vix also noted that many victims may face heavy emotions and fear when it comes to ending these relationships, urging students to show compassion and support to victims when they make these difficult decisions.

“It’s often a journey to leave a relationship, even if it’s unhealthy,” Hennes-Vix said. “[It’s about] centering their voice and their choice, while providing support, encouragement and resources while they navigate that.”

Survey responses continue to result in concerning statistics in consent boundaries being pushed and feelings of obligation between Bennies and Johnnies.

In the last data survey conducted in 2023, 40% of Bennies and 20% of Johnnies had stated they felt obligated or forced to act in unwanted sexual contact.

These feelings of obligation don’t solely pertain to unwanted sexual acts either.

Jantzer, Sociology and Gender Studies Professor at CSB+SJU, brought up the continuous discussion of separate campuses and how many students face discomfort in feeling that they have to host students after the Link bus hours end.

This isn’t the first instance where this issue has been brought up — following recent sexual assault allegations against two SJU students who are currently facing criminal charges (Brian Kimithi and John Kocher), a protest walkout organized by three CSB+SJU students cited the Link bussing issue as a fundamental problem in their demands.

Madeleine Gaunt, a CSB senior majoring in Peace Studies with a minor in Political Science and Psychology, said she is glad that CSB+SJU is holding these panels but wants more student voices and participation to be integrated within these discussions.

“I’ve taken notice that many students seem to be hesitant or unwilling to actually get involved and take these professors up on provided opportunities,” Gaunt said. “But I also think there has been great things happening, such as the walkout, things like that [are taking] an initiative.”

Both national and local movements have provided opportunity in amplifying voices in advocating for sexual violence awareness. Smith, a History and Gender Studies Professor, mentions the protests in 2021 after the Pat Hall incident and the nation-wide #MeToo movement as memorable instances of advocacy.

The panelists said that events focused on awareness of college sexual assaults and providing students with the tools to navigate these hard topics are important for supporting a healthy campus culture.

They said that student voices and concerns deserve to be recognized and acknowledged in conversations regarding sexual assault, unhealthy gender roles and supporting victims of sexual violence or abuse.