Building a Culture of Respect Across Genders: Eliminating Sexual Misconduct

Clinical staff members at virtually all college counseling centers provide therapy for victims of sexual misconduct experiences such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and stalking. A number of college counseling center counselors are also involved in primary, secondary, and tertiary sexual assault prevention efforts. This article develops a model of prevention based on the twin principles of affirmative consent and bystander intervention. We begin with a review of research on sexual assault prevention on campus. We then illustrate this model as it was developed and implemented at a particular institution over the past two decades. We provide effectiveness data in the form of event participation rates, satisfaction measures, and learning outcomes to demonstrate the results of this comprehensive approach. Finally, we end with recommendations for further development of prevention efforts.