By Amanda Korb
Body Beautiful Week commenced last Sunday in Sykes Formal Lounge with Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Jamie Utt, who hosted a discussion about Sex-Positive Party Culture. The idea? To improve campus culture to deter from sexual assault, while still proposing a sex-affirming culture.
Utt initiated the discussion by asking the group to envision the perfect party. Many ideas were practical, including snacks, endless toilet paper, alcohol, a variety of music, and tables for dancing. Utt hones in particularly on the perfect party consisting of alcohol, because too much can ensue for a sloppy disaster. Contrasting, he also recognizes that abstaining from alcohol, although there is nothing wrong about it, can often ostracize an individual. Utt speaks from experience. He didn’t start drinking until he was 24. He recalls not being invited to cocktail hour after work, simply because he didn’t drink. Simply put: alcohol is central to socializing.
Alcohol is not only correlated with socializing; it is common among rape and sexual assault. Alcohol, not drugs, is the number one date rape drug. In fact, almost 74% of perpetrators are under the influence of alcohol during the time of assault.
So what does this mean for colleges where the image of the perfect party involves all genders, loud music, dancing and of course alcohol? The truth is, as a society we do not try to stop perpetrators, but rather focus on the victims themselves. Women are given countless pieces of advice to avoid being raped. Don’t wear provocative clothing, don’t walk alone, stay in a group, don’t lead anyone on, don’t drink too much, and don’t go to the Tick Tock. This puts preventing sexual assault on women. Utt advocates for shifting the approach of “blame stone to sex-positive.”
Sam Yee ‘15, as part of an Innovation Grant initiated bringing Utt to campus. Yee recognizes that there are “always problems with sexual assault”. She hopes the grant will provide new ideas to tackle approaches and arouse new ideas for preventing sexual assault while promoting sex-positive culture.
Innovations Grants are offered every year through the president’s office. The grants are meant to involve as many interest groups as possible. This particular grant is geared toward having the sustainable conversation of preventing sexual assault. Dr. Evelyn Jennings, associate dean of academic advising, co-wrote the grant with Yee. Dr. Jennings recognized that the campus was focused on incoming students rather than current students. “We start early to build the culture forward,” stated Dr. Jennings. She claims that while a top-down approach is already in place in terms of Title 9 and St. Lawrence policy, it is really the first-years that will have the biggest impact. “Being the person that stands up and says, ‘let’s not do this/let’s do this instead’ can help.” Dr. Jennings hopes the grant will promote students to tap into reformation ideas.
Jamie Utt concludes with how unique a small campus is like St. Lawrence. Utt confirms that due to campus’ size, change is measurable. With that said, Utt vouches for the first line of defense is against victim blaming language, and then to tackle the broader issue. Little steps such as these yield the most significant results.