Tufts prioritizes consensual sex polices over rape?

For some reason, Tufts decision to regulate sexual activity in dorms has caught a lot of media attention. It’s safe to say that the new rule has garnered a general reaction of WTF? The articles make it generally unclear what the rule is supposed to do. Is there a punishment for those who break the rules? If so, how severe is it? Is there a formal complaint process to submit to ResLife? Anywho, it wasn’t the rule itself that stuck out to me when reading about this. It was how the rule was made.

In the Daily, it is reported that the Reslife Assistant Director for Community and Judicial Affairs explained that the change came as a result of an annual review. Apparently part of the review is examining trends from the previous year. This is great to know that there’s a group of people who can create change and alter policies. However, they implemented this policy with NO student input. Their reason?

ResLife saw a need to take the lead in addressing the issue due to its sensitive nature, according to Ales-Rich. “We found in the past that when it comes to sexual activity in the room, students find it an uncomfortable topic to talk about,” she said.

Hmmm…you know what else is of a sensitive nature and uncomfortable to talk about? SEXUAL ASSAULT. Why is Tufts so willing to take initiative to create policies about consensual sexual activities, but failed for so long to acknowledge that sexual assault is a problem for the students (not just the school’s reputation) and to “take the lead” in addressing it? I’m obviously very invested in sexual assault at Tufts for very unfortunate reasons, but this rule made me think. What goes on behind closed doors during meetings addressing sexual assault? Do these key players think that the assaults are only rare occurrences? Have they always thought that what they do is okay and that they’ve addressed this crisis properly? It is very possible that the administration has merely been ignorant, but ignorance is not an excuse. This is why a good administration would make sure everyone is well-educated and trained to know how to deal with sexual assault.

Now I’m not saying that Tufts should do what ResLife did. They went ahead created the rule without student input, which is a huge no-no. How can one expect to make an effective, reasonable policy that affects the students without any feedback from them? Existing on the same campus does not automatically mean that they are capable of knowing what it’s like to be a Tufts student at that day and time. It honestly seems ridiculous because the rule seems impossible to enforce and apparently “the sex policy… is intended as a tool to facilitate conversation and compromise between roommates, rather than simply proscribe behavior.” So… it’s not meant to be enforced? It’s just supposed to create conversation? It definitely has created a lot of conversation both on and off-campus, but  I don’t think the existence of this rule (is it a really a rule if it’s not meant to “proscribe behavior” ?) will make much of a difference. I would think that even if a student told ResLife they would only ask the roommates to sit down and talk it more often than not create an awkward, if not hostile environment. I mean, if a student doesnt respect their roommate enough to wait until they leave the room then why would they suddenly care after a ResLife facilitated discussion?