Annual Consent Fair Welcomes Students to Influence and Educate
By Angelina Stambouli, Contributing Writer
Consent Fair on Thursday, Sept. 8 (Photo Angelina Stambouli/The Gettysburgian)
On Thursday afternoon, the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX held its annual Consent Fair. Students were individually informed about the resources available to them as they approached the tables outside of the College Union Building.
“Campus Safety is 24/7 available to students no matter what,” said Assistant Director of Campus Safety Faith Biesecker.
Among the several representatives at each table were both campus resources and off-campus resources. Off-campus resources included the Wellspan Forensic Nurse, the PCAR (Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape), YWCA Hanover Safe Home, and the Adams County Sexual Assault Services. Campus Safety, Counseling Services, and the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center also participated to share on-campus resources.
Not only were students guided toward resources and help centers, but they were also encouraged to participate in prize-winning activities. As a new addition this year, students received a bingo card to garner signatures from each Consent Fair representative. Seven signatures indicated that a student stopped by each resource’s table. Once they received all the signatures, they returned their bingo card to the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX, which entered each student into a raffle for either a new Keurig with k-cups, Apple Airpods, a room decor pack, or a Brita water pitcher with filters.
Throughout the event, students also received free merchandise like pens, keychains, candy, stickers, and pins. Campus Safety also offered coffee to visitors.
As this year’s Consent Fair came to a close, Biesecker urged students, specifically first-years, to remember that “there are resources beyond campus [and] if students feel uncomfortable here, there are plenty of options in the Gettysburg community.”
Those who missed the event may refer to resources shared on the Campus Safety and Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX Instagram accounts.
Consent Fair on Thursday, Sept. 8 (Photo Angelina Stambouli/The Gettysburgian)
