California colleges welcomed on Monday a new law requiring affirmative consent for partners having sex on campus -dubbed a "Yes means Yes" law -in what is thought to be a first.
Under the law, signed on Sunday by governor Jerry Brown, partners will have to give "affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity" before they do so.
Affirmative consent cannot be given by someone who is asleep, unconscious, or if he or she is "incapacitated due to the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication," said the text of Bill 967, about sexual assaults on campus. The University of California (UC) welcomed the new law, sponsored by state senator Kevin de Leon. "We have worked with and supported senator De Leon on SB 967 and are pleased to see the bill become law in California," UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein said.
"The affirmative consent definition is one of many factors that is assessed when sexual violence is investigated and adjudicated on our campuses. But it is an extremely important one," she added.
Students also welcomed the new law, while voicing a note of caution. "UCSA commends Governor Brown for signing SB 967," said Jefferson Kuoch-Seng, spokesman for the University of California Student Association.
"The signing of this bill marks a crucial step towards the direction in which universities should treat survivors of sexual violence and their offenders. SB 967 creates the first ever affirmative consent, or `yes means yes' standard for universities," he said.
De Leon, the bill's sponsor, said, "The conversation on sexual assault on our college campuses turned an important corner today from chatter to action. Students at every California college campus will have basic protections to promote prevention and accountabilityhealing," he said.
The bill was one of several signed into law by the Democrat governor on Sunday , ahead of a Monday deadline.
Under the law, signed on Sunday by governor Jerry Brown, partners will have to give "affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity" before they do so.
Affirmative consent cannot be given by someone who is asleep, unconscious, or if he or she is "incapacitated due to the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication," said the text of Bill 967, about sexual assaults on campus. The University of California (UC) welcomed the new law, sponsored by state senator Kevin de Leon. "We have worked with and supported senator De Leon on SB 967 and are pleased to see the bill become law in California," UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein said.
"The affirmative consent definition is one of many factors that is assessed when sexual violence is investigated and adjudicated on our campuses. But it is an extremely important one," she added.
Students also welcomed the new law, while voicing a note of caution. "UCSA commends Governor Brown for signing SB 967," said Jefferson Kuoch-Seng, spokesman for the University of California Student Association.
"The signing of this bill marks a crucial step towards the direction in which universities should treat survivors of sexual violence and their offenders. SB 967 creates the first ever affirmative consent, or `yes means yes' standard for universities," he said.
De Leon, the bill's sponsor, said, "The conversation on sexual assault on our college campuses turned an important corner today from chatter to action. Students at every California college campus will have basic protections to promote prevention and accountabilityhealing," he said.
The bill was one of several signed into law by the Democrat governor on Sunday , ahead of a Monday deadline.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon