University of Sydney sexual consent course slammed as a stunt

The University of Sydney’s online sex consent tutorial has been slammed as a cynical PR stunt by student representatives.

An illustration from the course module on Charles Darwin University’s online course on sexual consent.

The University of Sydney’s online sexual consent tutorial has been slammed as a cynical PR stunt by a collective of women student representatives.

Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect and Positive Intervention outlines the basics of sexual consent and factors that can impair an individual from being able to give consent, including drug and alcohol using stick figures. The course is also offered at Charles Darwin University and the Australian National University. New students will be taught to obtain an enthusiastic yes before commencing sexual activity and will need to score 100 per cent to pass the course. All commencing students will have to undertake the course, but are only required to complete it before they graduate.

The National Union of Student’s Women’s department, The University of Sydney’s Student’s Representative Council and the University of Sydney’s Women’s Collective says the online module will not do anything to improve understanding of consent and are urging the university to instead implement evidence based primary prevention education.

Usyd SRC President Imogen Grant says the university should instead be looking to proven models of consent education. “The evidence is clear that one-off programs don’t work in changing behaviour.” she said. “The University should seek the assistance of international leaders in sexual violence prevention education, such as Professor Moira Carmody.”

She also said the online module was intended as a quick fix to criticism the university has received over its handling of on campus sexual assault allegations. “The University is using Consent Matters over evidence based programs as it is cheaper and quickly assuages public criticism around sexual assault at university.” Ms Grant said.

University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence says sexual misconduct is a difficult issue for universities to address and says the university will not apologise for starting a conversation on consent. “The University makes no apology for opening up discussion on consent and trying to help our students navigate this difficult area.” he said. “Sexual assault and harassment are very difficult and confronting issues being faced by all universities as well as the broader community.”

The University of Sydney has attracted intense media scrutiny after a slew of incidents involving sexual misconduct at its residential colleges were widely reported by the media. A report by Australia’s former Sex Discrimination Officer Elizabeth Broderick found 25 per cent of female students had experienced sexual harassment and six per cent had experienced actual or attempted sexual assault at the colleges.

NUS National Women’s Officer Kate Crossin says the need for effective consent education is vital to prevent sexual assault on campus. “53 Usyd undergraduate students are raped every week.” she said. “The introduction of evidence based consent education has never been more important than right now.”

A University of Sydney spokeswoman said the decision to implement Consent Matters was made in May last year after recommendations from the university’s Safer Communities Advisory Group. The module was designed by online course developer Epigeum in conjunction with experts from the United Kingdom and Australia, and will be complemented by training offered to student leaders. “The Consent Matters module was developed by Epigeum in collaboration with academics, independent consultants and sexual health professionals in the UK and Australia.” she said. “In addition to the module, the University is running the Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia in person training, “Responding with Compassion” to all key student leaders.”

A national survey of university students released last year by the Australian Human Rights Commission found more than a quarter of students experienced sexual harassment at university in 2016, and almost two per cent had been sexually assaulted.