UNCG Recreation & Wellness

Intimate Partner Violence Awareness & Prevention

UNC Greensboro understands the prevalence of interpersonal violence and the serious impacts these acts have on individuals and the University community as a whole. This University is dedicated to providing a comprehensive prevention, response, and support services to address these acts of violence including sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking.

Understanding Relationship Violence

Relationship violence, also known as “dating violence” or “intimate partner violence” is a pattern of verbal, physical, emotional, financial, psychological, and/or sexual abuse within the context of an intimate relationship. This abuse can occur during or after the relationship is over. Relationship violence often starts with emotional or psychological abuse, and escalates over time.

Understanding Sexual Assault

In the United States, the definition of sexual assault can varies widely between individual states. At UNCG, sexual assault is defined as any sexual activity that occurs without consent. This can include both sexual contact (such as groping or deliberate touching) and sexual intercourse (penetration or cunnilingus).

Understanding Consent

Consent is an affirmative decision to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity given by clear action or words. It is an informed decision made freely, willingly, and actively by all parties. Asking for consent may feel awkward, especially if you are not used to asking. Do it anyway! You will get more comfortable and better at it. Tips for obtaining effective, affirmative consent:

  • Clear communication. Look for a positive, active, enthusiastic consent given through words and actions. The absence of a no does not mean yes. Only YES means YES.
  • Freely and Willingly. Affirmative consent cannot be established with force or coercion. This includes physical violence, threats of violence, intimidation, emotional, psychological, or relational pressure.
  • Unimpaired Decision Making. Consensual sexual activity can occur between 2 people who are drinking alcohol, it is imperative that students ensure their partner is fully aware of their own behaviors and decisions. Someone who is incapacitated (due to alcohol or substance use) cannot give consent. If someone is asleep, passed out, unconscious, or mentally and/or physically helpless, they are not able to give consent.
  • Step-by-Step. Consent is a continual process, and you must establish consent for every sex activity. Consent to a prior sexual encounter does not mean consenting to another sexual encounter.
  • Subject to Change. Consent is an ongoing process throughout a sexual encounter and may be revoked at any time. It is important to respect your partner’s decisions if they decide to limit or end and sexual encounter.

Understanding Sexual Harassment

Any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature including requests for sexual favors and unwelcome sexual advances. This includes harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Sexual harassment can be verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical, or emotional in nature.

There are 2 major types of harassment:

  • Quid Pro Quo. Harassment is based on one person have power or control over another person. For example, a student may have to dress a certain way for employment or have to perform sexual favors for a good grade.
  • Hostile Environment. Harassment has created an environment that interferes with a student’s life on campus (i.e. – affecting academic performance or involvement in campus activities)

Understanding Stalking

Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear and/or suffer emotional distress. Stalking behaviors include, but are not limited to:

  • Excessive contact (phone calls, texts, DMs, emails, etc.)
  • Repeatedly leaving or sending unwanted gifts, etc.
  • Following you or showing up unexpectedly
  • Following you on social media sites to keep with your activities
  • Threatening you or family/friends with physical harm

Intimate Partner Violence Prevention

The Department of Recreation and Wellness collaborates closely with campus and community partners in an effort to prevent interpersonal violence through awareness, education, and outreach. Our major prevention efforts include:

  • Sexual Assault Awareness Week (including Take Back the Night and Clotheslines Project)
  • Dating Violence Awareness Month (including the Red Flag Campaign)
  • SPARTA peer education workshops for classroom and residence halls programs

For more info about upcoming programs and how to get more involved, click here.

Intimate Partner Violence Response

At UNCG, we believe in using a system that gives survivors as much control over the response process as possible. 

Understanding your options after an assault can be extremely confusing and overwhelming for students.

UNCG is pleased to announce our Campus Violence Response Center. 

The CVRC is located on the ground floor of the Gove Student Health Center building.  Visit the website here http://cvrc.uncg.edu/

Phone: (336) 334-9839

E-mail: CVRC@uncg.edu