Teach kids ‘yes means yes’ before freshman year

Spring break is around the corner – the one with the kegs and beach towels – and as dorms empty from UC Merced and CSU Stanislaus, students will be greeting it, and each other, with a new motto: “Yes means yes.”

Campus sexual assault has been the subject of a national conversation for the past year. Many argue “no means no” isn’t enough in drawing the line between rape and consensual sex. Students nationally, including at UC Berkeley and Stanford, have filed federal complaints alleging campuses have downplayed sexual assaults, creating a hostile environment for female students.

Last year, the University of California system revamped its sexual violence and harassment policy, and a new federal law took effect mandating that reporting of sexual assaults at universities be more transparent. In January, a new state law required campuses to radically alter handling of sexual assault accusations.

Now California universities accepting public funds must let couples know they need “affirmative consent” from each other before having a sexual encounter, and that consent must be “conscious” and “voluntary.” That means only “yes” can mean yes.

Sex with someone who is drugged, drunk or unconscious should mean sexual assault charges.

If the 50 percent spike in such claims at UC is an indication, that new bar has been news to more than a few freshmen. So we welcome this year’s legislative push to teach students the new rules while they’re in high school. It just would have been nice if Senate Bill 695, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, had preceded California’s affirmative consent law. Because if ever a change cried out for more discussion and education, this is it.

The bill would require school districts that have made health education a graduation requirement to add affirmative consent and sexual violence to the curriculum. This isn’t a stretch; state content standards for health education already include information on rape trauma, sexual harassment, setting boundaries and bullying. But this talk is tardy.

Culture warriors are already exploiting the situation: Gun rights advocates in at least 10 states are promoting “campus carry” bills they claim will deter rapes by arming female students. Meanwhile, the filmmakers who did the rape-in-the-military exposé “Invisible War,” released a new documentary last week on rape on campus. “The Hunting Ground” has already divided critics, with some saying it finally reveals the misogyny that underpins fraternity life and college athletics as others say it is a one-sided anti-male polemic.

It’s a lot to process, even for adults. Leaving this for college orientation will result in failure.

So yes, let’s discuss it in high school. And while we’re at it, let’s discuss it as families, too. Waiting for that first spring break will be too late.

This story was originally published March 7, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Teach kids ‘yes means yes’ before freshman year."