Sex Education and Sexual Safety Now, Not Later
By Emily Carr
During orientation week, we sat through two separate sessions that discussed Title IX and support for victims/survivors of sexual violence. These were mandatory sessions for all incoming graduate students, where we were told how to access support groups if we were victims of sexual violence and given scenarios in which we were asked whether the situation constituted rape or consensual sex.
We went to the services fair in Butler Library and spoke to health and safety services about the sexual health services they offered. We were shown pamphlets on Narcan training, given mini first-aid kits and fidget toys, and provided with QR codes to book appointments.
I am not saying that these talks are unimportant or that these "freebies" were not welcomed by students such as myself. What I am saying is that I believe Columbia is missing something so fundamental that it is desperately needed: sexual education and safety being taught at the start of each term in a...