Unclear whether they denied sexual advances
Two students have reported sexual assault-type incidents within the last two weeks, and in both cases the students said they did not clearly communicate that the sex was unwanted, according to police reports.
The incidents happened between Sept. 24 and Oct. 6 and both took place in the dorms, according to University of Arizona Police Department records.
In both cases, the students said they invited an acquaintance back to their rooms after they had been drinking. The students then engaged in unwanted sexual activity, but told police that they had not clearly communicated that the contact was unwanted.
No charges were pressed in either case, reports stated.
Once a student believes sexual contact has become inappropriate, he or she should clearly and immediately communicate that he or she wants the activity to stop, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman.
"It has to be verbalized," he said. "There needs to be the communication that they don't want to participate."
The person who is engaging in the activity will likely assume it is consensual unless it is made clear that it is not, Mejia said.
Mejia said students can prevent such instances by not putting themselves in a situation where they are alone with someone they don't know that well, especially when alcohol is involved.
"Don't drink. Drinking may make it harder to clearly think about what is happening," he said. "We understand that students do socialize, but it's possible to socialize without drinking. When alcohol inhibitions are lessened, maybe people get the wrong message."
Mejia said when someone says "no," the person he or she is engaged in the sexual activity with should back away immediately.
In both cases the students were advised on how to prevent future unwanted sexual situations, reports stated.