Learn

Knowing the basics about consent, sexual violence, and healthy relationships are essential steps. Educate yourself so that you can help your friends and your community be safe and healthy.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment refers to conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

• A university employee conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
• unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the university’s Programs or Activities;
• Sexual Assault
• Dating Violence
• Domestic Violence
• Stalking

Consent and Sexual Assault

Consent is a voluntary and freely given agreement, through words and/or actions, to engage in mutually-agreed upon sexual activity.  Consent is a requirement for any sexual behavior.

Any sexual activity directed against another person without their consent is sexual assault. Sexual assault is a serious crime and is prohibited by the GW's Title IX Sexual Assault and Related Conduct Policy.

Healthy Relationships and Intimate Partner Violence

You deserve to be safe and healthy in all of your relationships, whether it is a friendship, a dating relationship, a sexual relationship, a long term romantic partnership, or something else.

Educate yourself about the essential components of healthy relationships; think about what matters most to you in your relationships.

Dating and domestic violence means the use of, or threatened use of, physical force with intent, effect, or reasonable likelihood of causing pain, harm, injury or damage to any person or property.

Dating and domestic violence happens to people of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, races and ethnicities, cultural and religious backgrounds, economic situations, geographical settings, and other social identities.

Stalking

Stalking refers to a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.  Stalking is a crime that the university and law enforcement take very seriously, both by itself and when it is part of other kinds of interpersonal violence.

Retaliation

Retaliation includes words or acts, as described below, against an individual or group of individuals involved in a protected activity under this Policy. Protected activity includes participating, testifying, assisting, or refusing to participate in any manner in proceedings under this Policy; making a good faith report under this Policy; filing an external complaint; or opposing in a reasonable manner and consistent with university policy, an action reasonably believed to constitute a violation of this Policy. Retaliation can take many forms, including, but not limited to, adverse action or violence, discrimination, threats, coercion, and intimidation that would discourage a reasonable person (under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the targeted individual or group) from engaging in protected activity.  Reports of retaliation will be addressed by the university separate from the procedures provided in this Policy, as appropriate. 

Learn More About Prevention & Response

Take some time to learn more about sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking.  Knowing about the warning signs of unhealthy relationships, about sexual assault prevention strategies, and the dynamics of stalking can help prepare you to be an active and engaged member of a safe community.

Find out more about the effects of sexual assault, relationship abuse, and other trauma. Learn about how survivors might respond and how you can help.  Knowing how to respond when sexual violence happens or when a friend is in an unsafe relationship is also important.  

Having a good understanding of GW resources is important so that you can help a friend in need.

You can also educate yourself about GW policies, Title IX, and and current news related to these issues.