Can I kiss you? A simple question, but totally awkward to ask on a date, right? Wrong!
This thought, along with many other thoughts about sexual consent, was challenged Wednesday, Dec. 6, by Mike Domitrz during a presentation held in Dodds Theater.
The presentation, sponsored by the Victimology Club and co-sponsored by the Campus Grant, the Psychology Club, Dean of Students Rebecca Johnson, SCOPE and the Office of Intercultural Relations, addressed the issue of consent and promoted overall healthy relationships.
“Talking about these issues will create a healthier campus and will benefit everyone,” Victoria Carnera, President of the Victimology Club, said.
Mike Domitrz, the keynote speaker, is the founder of the Date Safe Project, which promotes respect, consent and bystander intervention while educating audiences about dating, sexual intimacy decisions and sexual assault.
Domitrz uses humor to reach out to his audience, connects with them and makes talking about sensitive topics easier.
Domitrz urged the audience to always ask for consent, whether it is your first date with the person, or your hundredth one. He also asked the audience to intervene when they see someone getting taken advantage of. “You wouldn’t want your sister to be sexually assaulted, would you?” he asked. “That’s why you should intervene if you see someone else’s sister in danger.”
“The presentation was very eye opening; it took you out of your comfort zone, and put you in a real life situation to test out different situations,” freshman Jared Ensling said about the presentation.
“This event is important for UNH students because consent is a huge part of relationships,” Annie De Los Santos, a member of the Victimology Club and a Peer Mentor on campus, said. “Lack of consent can lead to people being taken advantage of.”
Peer Mentors can be found across campus. They are members of the UNH student body and are always available to help students find the right resources on campus if they have been a victim of sexual assault.
“Victims usually become victims because of a lack of consent, and that’s something everyone should know about,” De Los Santos added.
