What You Can Do To Prevent Sexual Assault

This is hands-down one of the best Public Service Announcements I have seen.  It not only brings up issues of consent, but it also encourages bystander intervention.

This scenario is a great example of how someone is still awake, waking around, somewhat engaging with others, but is not in a position to consent to sexual activity.  You can see her glassed-over eyes, her swaying, her vacant stare, her complacency.  There is a lot of discussion about consent intellectually, but on the street, on campus, in the bar, I don't think people know the difference between who is a person having a fun time, making informed decisions and who isn't.  How do you solve a problem like that?  ASK!  I once read an article that encouraged people to just ask others "are you ok?" if you suspect anything...domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, anything that smells fishy, just ask the person.  If they aren't ok, it gives them the opportunity to say no, and if they are ok, no harm, no foul.  I understand this isn't always safe for everyone to do, but it seems like a low-cost, potentially high reward thing to do.  This video shows that every time we are in public, we each have a role to play and though asking if someone is ok might not be within that role's normal tasks, it can and should be.
This is one of the films that Columbia University students can watch to comply with their university's sexual respect requirement.  I would like this film be shown to all high school seniors and college students.  I think many people can identify with at least one of the roles portrayed and think of some nights they could have done things differently.  I hope more people step in and step up to prevent sexual violence.