Last Saturday, I found myself in a discussion about mandated reporting with a Georgetown English professor and two students from South Carolina. Our discussion took place during GDS’ ninth annual Summit on Consent and Sexual Assault.
This was my first time attending the Summit, and it was both intellectually and personally enriching because I heard a diverse array of perspectives and was encouraged to challenge the preconceived ideas I had about consent. I had previously thought that consent is not something that people use every day. However, from the Summit, I learned that consent should be used consistently in our lives. The Summit brought together professionals, activists and survivors from across the country to discuss critical issues involving consent and sexual assault. I urge all GDS students to attend the Summit at least once so they too can learn about the complexities of consent and how they can educate others about consent.
Over the two-day event, I attended a variety of lectures, a survivor panel and workshops that provided valuable insights into sexual assault prevention, survivor advocacy, legal frameworks and institutional responses. One of my workshops explored how artificial intelligence influences consent. I now understand the connection between consent and artificial intelligence; with the rise in artificial intelligence, humans are giving it consent to use our personal information to produce information specifically curated for us.
Two of my other workshops emphasized the idea that healing from trauma can actually be a positive experience. Previously, I had thought that the healing process was only difficult and painful, but I learned about how it can be a source of empowerment. When people go through the healing process, they connect with others who support them, and they learn how to cope with negative emotions in a healthy way. I learned about how students can support survivors by listening to their stories and talking about the injustices they have experienced. I also learned about how students can take an active role in supporting victims by advocating for protocols that would make proving someone was sexually assaulted more accessible.
In addition to helping people question and deepen their understanding of consent, the Summit empowers students to take action and make a tangible difference in their communities.
Senior Evelyn Chen, one of the main organizers, emphasized that the event’s impact goes beyond awareness-raising; it’s about inspiring people to learn about consent and promote consensual interactions. To promote consensual interactions, Chen said the Summit was focused on encouraging athletes to practice and talk about consent in athletics because there are a lot of non-consensual practices in athletic spaces such as sexual abuse and violence. Speakers at the Summit talked about specific ways athletes can promote consent and hold discussions with their teams about the importance of consent; athletes can host discussions about consent for their teams and address any accusations about sexual violence instead of ignoring them.
Maggie Nicolas gave the keynote speech; she is a survivor of the USA Gymnastics scandal— Larry Nassar, a former team doctor, sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, including Nicolas, over decades under the pretense of medical treatment. Nicolas was the first athlete who reported she had been sexually abused. She emphasized the importance of addressing sexual violence as a problem that affects people of all genders and backgrounds; she said that everyone plays a role in keeping the discussion about consent in all forms alive. The standing ovation she received after her speech was a powerful reminder of the emotional impact the Summit has on its attendees and their collective commitment to combat sexual violence.
At the Summit, students are not only learning about consent—they are being encouraged and equipped to take action, whether that’s through supporting survivors, holding peers accountable or advocating for policy changes. The Summit teaches students that their voices matter and that they have the power to help drive change.