The University of West Florida administration has changed its proposed amendment to its Student Code of Conduct from defining sexual harassment to focusing on what constitutes consent. The public comment period ended on Sunday, Oct. 28
The new proposal deletes that consent cannot be gained by: “by intimidation, through threats, by ignoring or acting in spite of the objections of another, by coercion, through manipulation or assumption, or from an individual who is incapacitated.”
What is Force?
Instead, it adds: “Force includes the use of coercion, intimidation, physical violence, and/or threats.
a. Coercion. Using an unreasonable amount of pressure, including alcohol or drugs, to have sexual contact with someone. Coercion is more than an effort to persuade, entice, or attract another person to have sexual contact. When a person makes clear a decision not to participate in a particular sexual activity, continued pressure can be coercive. In evaluating whether coercion was used, the University will consider frequency of the application; intensity; duration of the pressure and the degree of isolation imposed upon the individual being pressured…