Consent is defined by people officially affiliated with Brown University in the following way (abbreviated):

“Consent is an affirmative and willing agreement to engage in specific forms of sexual contact with another person. Consent requires an outward demonstration, through mutually understandable words or actions, indicating that an individual has freely chosen to engage in sexual contact.  Consent cannot be obtained through: (1)  the use of coercion or force or (2) by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another individual.”

For the full definition, click here.

Consent is an agreement that each person makes if they want to engage in sexual activity. The issue of consent can be a complicated and ambiguous area that needs to be addressed with clear, open, and honest communication. Keep these points in mind if you are not sure consent has been established:

Each person is equally free to act.

The decision to be sexually intimate must be without coercion, which includes a consideration of the power dynamics at play within sexual and interpersonal interactions. Each person must have the option to choose to be intimate or not. Each person should be free to change "yes" to "no" at any time. Factors such as body size, previous victimization, threats to "out" someone, and other fears can prevent an individual from freely consenting, as well as others. An offender may also use these factors to manipulate someone.

Each person needs to be fully conscious and aware.
The use of alcohol or other substances can interfere with someone's ability to make clear decisions about the level of intimacy they are comfortable with. The more intoxicated a person is, the less they are able to give conscious consent.

Each person clearly communicates their willingness and permission.
Willingness and permission must be communicated clearly and unambiguously. Just because a person fails to resist sexual advances does not mean that they are willing. Consent is not the absence of the word "no."

Each person is positive and sincere about their desires.
It is important to be honest in communicating feelings about consent. If one person states their desires, the other person can make informed decisions about the encounter.

(Adapted from Berkowitz, Alan. "Guidelines for Consent in Intimate Relationships," Campus Safety & Student Development, Vol. 3, No. 4, March/April 2002.)

Whether the incident occurred recently or long ago, it is never too late to get help:

• Talk to a counselor at one of the resources below to work through the emotional and physical impacts of the assault and to get support.

• Find an on-campus Support Group here or a local support group by contacting Day One: The Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center to help you connect with other survivors and start the healing process.

Campus, Confidential Resources:

Sexual Assault Response Line 401.863-6000
Available through Psychological Services' on-call system. Confidential crisis support and information is available for any Brown student dealing with sexual assault. The on-call counselor is also available to accompany a victim to the hospital.

SHARE Advocates (Sexual Harassment & Assault Resources & Education), share@brown.edu, 401.863-2794, 3rd floor of Health Services
The SHARE Advocates are available to help students affected by sexual violence. Confidential services include support for a survivor or the friends of a survivor, help filing a complaint (if that is the student’s choice), help navigating resources at Brown and in the community, and educational programs for the student community. When you get support, you do not have to pursue any specific course of action and no action will be taken unless it’s something you choose.

Counseling and Psychological Services 401.863-3476
Clinicians provide confidential crisis support, follow-up appointments, and 24-hour on-call services for any Brown student dealing with sexual assault.  Located at J Walter Wilson, Room 516.

Brown Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 401.863-4111
Emergency response available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

University Health Services 401.863-3953
Confidential medical care, testing and treatment. Emergency contraceptive pills and treatment for sexually transmitted infections are available. Located at 13 Brown Street on the corner of Brown and Charlesfield Streets.

Chaplains Office 401.863-2344 
The Chaplains are available for personal counseling and support. Call to make an appointment. Located in J Walter Wilson, Room 410.

Campus, NOT Confidential Resources:

Office of Student Life/Dean-on-Call 401.863-3800
Provides a crisis response system which includes administrators-on-call.

Title IX Office
(401) 863-2386, Rene Davis, Title IX Program Officer
Information and support resources for the Brown University community around issues of sexual misconduct and Title IX. 

Brown Department of Public Safety 401.863-4111 (emergency response) 
Emergency response available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also direct any complaints to Public Safety's administrative number, 863-3322.

Off-campus, Confidential Resources:

Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-494-8100 
If you or someone you know needs help because of a sexual assault or an abusive relationship, call this hotline 24 hours a day. Counselor-advocates provide confidential support and are available to accompany victims of sexual assault to the hospital and police station. Ongoing counseling and support groups are available. (This hotline is specific to Rhode Island. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE if you need help in another state.)

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE
This is a national hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline offers free, confidential counseling and support 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the country. When a survivor calls the hotline, s/he is connected to the nearest local rape crisis center through a unique computer routing system that maintains the confidentiality of callers.

Local Hospitals and Emergency Rooms (Off-campus, Confidential):

Hasbro Children’s Hospital
593 Eddy Street, Providence 
401.444-4000

• Will care for patients age 25 and younger.

• Serves patients of all gender identities (male, female and trans-identified).

• Serves patients who may be intoxicated (alcohol and/or other drugs).

• Provides medical care, including STI and HIV prophylaxis and emergency contraception.

• Offers testing for drug-facilitated sexual assault up to 72 hours after an assault, even if you don’t want to have the evidence collection exam. (Be aware that some drugs may not be detectable after 12 hours.)

• Can provide the evidence collection exam up to 72 hours after an assault.  

• Will offer a Day One Advocate if you prefer off-campus support. (For a confidential crisis counselor from Brown, you can contact the Sexual Assault Response Line at 401.863-6000.)

• Cost of treatment and evidence collection are covered by Rhode Island’s Victim Compensation Fund.  Be sure to tell the receptionist that you have been sexually assaulted and don’t want your insurance to be billed.

Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Avenue, Providence 
401.793-2500

• Serves patients who are 18 or older.

• Serves patients of all gender identities (male, female and trans-identified).

• Serves patients who may be intoxicated (alcohol and/or other drugs).

• Provides medical care, including STI and HIV prophylaxis and emergency contraception.

• Offers testing for drug-facilitated sexual assault up to 72 hours after an assault, even if you don’t want to have the evidence collection exam. (Be aware that some drugs may not be detectable after 12 hours.)

• Can provide the evidence collection exam up to 72 hours after an assault.  

• Will offer a Day One Advocate if you prefer off-campus support. (For a confidential crisis counselor from Brown, you can contact the Sexual Assault Response Line at 401.863-6000.)

• Does NOT submit expenses to Rhode Island’s Victim Compensation Fund, so insurance may be billed and charges may be incurred.

Women and Infants Hospital
101 Dudley Street, Providence 
401.274-1100

• Serves female patients and some trans patients who are 18 or older.

• Does NOT serve patients who are intoxicated.

• Provides medical care, including STI and HIV prophylaxis and emergency contraception.

• Does NOT offer testing for drug-facilitated sexual assault.

• Can provide the evidence collection exam up to 96 hours (4 days) after an assault.

• Will offer a Day One Advocate if you prefer off-campus support. (For a confidential crisis counselor from Brown, you can contact the Sexual Assault Response Line at 401.863-6000.)

• Cost of treatment, evidence collection AND the ER visit are covered by Rhode Island’s Victim Compensation Fund.  Be sure to tell the receptionist that you have been sexually assaulted and don’t want your insurance to be billed.

Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy Street, Providence 
401.444-5411

• Rhode Island Hospital is a Level One Trauma Center.  This is the best hospital for care when someone has life-threatening physical injuries in addition to being sexually assaulted.

Even if you have no apparent injuries after the assault, it is still a good idea to seek medical care. Going to the hospital, even though it might be difficult, is an important way for you to start taking care of yourself. You can decide what medical care you want or don't want. You may come to Health Services or you may go to any hospital you choose. If you need to be transferred from Health Services to another emergency care site, Brown EMS can transport you.

At the hospital, you will be asked questions about your general health. If you are someone who could become pregnant, you will be asked about your menstrual history and your use of contraception. You will also be asked specific questions about the assault. It may be difficult to recall some of the details, and it may be emotionally painful to talk about what happened. Medical providers ask specific questions to find out what to look for when they examine you. The information you give helps them conduct a thorough and appropriate physical evaluation.

Then you can choose to have a physical exam. The clinician will check for external and internal injuries and test for any sexually transmitted infections. You may be given antibiotics to prevent infection. A pregnancy test will be done if appropriate and you will be given emergency contraceptive pills to prevent unintended pregnancy.

The medical providers will, with your permission, collect physical evidence to be used if you decide to prosecute. Collecting this physical evidence is called a "rape kit." This cannot be done at Health Services, but must be done at an emergency room or hospital. Depending on the types of sexual contact that occurred, the search for physical evidence may include taking samples from the vagina, mouth, or rectum to test for sperm cells and semen. Other evidence may be obtained from fingernail scrapings, foreign matter on your body, and the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault.

All exam findings are completely confidential and can only be released with your written consent. If you have visible injuries, you may be asked to have photographs taken. Photographing injuries is important because by the time your assailant is prosecuted, the injuries may have healed.

Going to the hospital does not mean that you have to make a report to the police. That is your choice. The hospital staff will probably ask you to come back for a follow-up checkup. Or, you follow up with a medical provider of your choice. A counselor will be available to talk with you. Additional ongoing counseling will be available to you through the support resources of your choice.