NEW PALTZ – The SUNY New Paltz College Council approved the SUNY-wide policy on sexual violence prevention and response on Thursday.
The New Paltz campus played a major role in drafting the statewide policy.
Tanhena Pacheco-Dunn, the executive director of compliance and campus climate at New Paltz, told the college council the definition of affirmative consent among two people was a key component in the policy.
“It is very close in language to the current definition, which was approved last fall,” Pacheco-Dunn said. “There are some additions made through the task force to help enhance the definition and those who would be held responsible are served under this definition, but by and large, it mirrors very closely what we have on campus.”
Affirmative consent is defined in the policy as a clear, unambiguous,
knowing and informed voluntary agreement between all participants to engage
in sexual activity. Pacheco-Dunn said consent is “active, not passive.”
