Sexual Conduct Risk Reduction

While victim-blaming is never appropriate and Western Iowa Tech fully recognizes that only those who commit sexual offenses are responsible for their actions, the following suggestions are given to help members of the campus community reduce their risk of being victimized and their risk of committing sexual offenses.

Reducing the Risk of Victimization

• Make any limits and/or boundaries you may have known as early as possible. 
• Tell a sexual aggressor “no,” as clearly and firmly as possible. 
• Remove yourself, if possible, from an aggressor’s physical presence. 
• Reach out for help, either from someone who is physically nearby or by calling someone. Bystanders around you may be waiting for a signal that you need help. 
• Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol and/or drug consumption, understanding that alcohol and drugs can increase your vulnerability to sexual victimization. 
• Look out for your friends and ask them to look out for you. Respect them, and ask them to respect you, but be willing to challenge each other about high-risk choices. 

Reduct the Risk of Being Accused of a Sex Offense 

• Show your potential partner respect if you are in a position of initiating sexual behavior.  
• If they say “no,” accept it and don’t push. If you want a yes, ask for it, and don't proceed without clear permission. 
• Communicate your intentions to your potential sexual partner clearly and give that person a chance to share their intentions and/or boundaries with you. 
• Respect personal boundaries. If you are unsure what’s okay in any interaction, ask.  
• Avoid ambiguity. Just ask. Don’t make assumptions about consent, about whether someone is attracted to you, how far you can go with that person, or if the individual is physically and mentally able to consent. If you have questions or are unclear, you don’t have consent. 
• Don’t take advantage of the fact that someone may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, even if that person chose to become that way. Their loss of control does not put you in control. 
• Be on the lookout for mixed messages. That should be a clear indication to stop and talk about what your potential partner wants or doesn’t want to happen. They may be undecided about how far to go with you, or you may have misread a previous signal.  
• Respect the timeline for sexual behaviors with which others are comfortable and understand that everyone is entitled to change their minds. 
• Recognize that even if you don’t think you are intimidating in any way, your potential partner may be intimidated by or fearful of you, perhaps because of your sex, physical size, or a position of power or authority you may hold. 
• Do not assume that someone’s silence or passivity is an indication of consent. Pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal signals to avoid misreading intentions. 
• Understand that consent to one type of sexual behavior does not automatically grant you consent to other types of sexual behaviors. If you are unsure, stop and ask. 
• If your partner indicates a need to stop, or withdraws consent, respect them. Immediately. 
• If you’ve had consent with your partner previously, still check in with them. Just because something was okay with them before doesn’t mean it will be okay in the future.