Rachel Hammond, Staff Writer

“Consent is like offering someone a cup of tea.” If you wanted tea today, why would it be assumed you would want tea tomorrow?

Several campus departments gathered together in the Residential Plaza to celebrate the It’s On Us Week of Action with a Commit to Consent Rally on Oct. 7.

The “It’s On Us” campaign was created in 2014 by the White House in an effort to prevent sexual assault on college campuses.

The Commit to Consent Rally provided students with information about consent as well as how to avoid being a bystander in situations of potential sexual assault.

“Consent is a verbal ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” one student said when asked what they considered consent. 

As students traveled from table to table, they had the opportunity to write a way to ask for consent. On a bulletin board labeled “This is How I Ask For Consent…” students pinned their unique answers. A few read, “Do you want to do this?” “How do you feel?” and, simply, “You good?”

Several tables that were set up featured wheels for students to spin. Upon landing, the student would be asked a question about sexual assault.

“I think 30 percent of rapes are reported and probably two percent get jail time,” said a student when given a trivia question. “You’re half right! Actually, 10 percent of rapes are reported and two percent of cases end with jail time,” replied a representative from the Rape Crisis Center of Savannah.

The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) offers resources to victims of sexual assault. Additionally, the RCC needs volunteers to run crisis lines as well as to accompany victims to hospitals. In order to volunteer, those interested must be at least 21 years old, have a four-year degree, and pass a drug test and background check.

The It’s On Us Week of Action continues until Friday, Oct. 11.