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Failure to comply with this policy may result in a complaint of sexual misconduct.

Skidmore College strives to promote an environment where mutual respect, communica-tion, cultural competency, understanding, and awareness are the basis for any sexual be-havior or activity. Mutual respect and communication are keys to maintaining each student’s personal integrity when engaging in sexual behavior.

Community Expectations

• Mutual Respect: Treat others as they would like to be treated. In sexual relations this includes respecting your partner (their desires, boundaries, and body) and having open communication with the person(s) with whom you are engaging in sexual contact so that all those involved are comfortable with the activity that may occur and understand the boundaries and needs of those involved.

• Communication: Open communication and listening includes understanding one’s own needs and desires, discussing these needs and desires with your partner(s), and, in gen- eral, creating open communication within the relationship whether it is for a brief encounter or a longer commitment. Verbal communication in sexual situations is almost always the clearest means to communicate. The College encourages students who choose to engage in sexual behavior to talk with each other clearly about what they want, or do not want, from sex prior to engaging in sexual activity. An environment based on open communications and listening promotes effective consent, which Skid- more College considers integral to any responsible sexual relationship.

• Cultural Awareness and Respect: The Skidmore College community is a multicultural educational environment where the customs and values of each individual are respected. Although the College’s standards regarding behavioral expectations and guidelines apply to all individuals, each person should recognize and respect the variations in the cultural expectations of others and demonstrate civility while engaging in open communication regarding sexual desires and boundaries.

Effective Consent is the basis of this policy because effective consent maintains the value that all persons have the right to feel respected, acknowledged, and safe during sexual activity.

• Effective Consent is informed, freely and actively given, and is based on rational and rea- sonable judgment. It requires clear communication between all persons involved in the sexual encounter.

• Consent can be communicated verbally or by action(s). In whatever way consent is com- municated, it must be mutually understandable.

• Consent is mutually understandable when a reasonable person would consider the words and/or actions that you and your partner(s) have expressed demonstrate a desire to do the same thing, at the same time, in the same way, with one another.