Campus News
April 17th, 2023
Dove Center, GC host 'Consent Revolution'
Event held in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Photo by Hannah Sickles
Garrett College and the Dove Center jointly hosted a “Consent Revolution” event last Wednesday in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Students Arianna Richardson (foreground), Josie Canales (back left), and Hailey Paige participated in one of the art activities associated with the event.
Photo by Hannah Sickles
Garrett College and the Dove Center jointly hosted a “Consent Revolution” event last Wednesday in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Students Arianna Richardson (foreground), Josie Canales (back left), and Hailey Paige participated in one of the art activities associated with the event.
The Consent Revolution, organized by the Dove Center, returned to Garrett College last Wednesday in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
"We offered this event for three consecutive years before COVID," said Dove Center Executive Director Heather Hanline, who explained the relaunched event focused on "getting everyone enthusiastic about consent in healthy relationships."
"We wanted to connect with students and staff and get a conversation started about the importance of consent," added Hanline, noting the Dove Center’s related goal of "helping people recognize toxic or unhealthy relationships."
Hanline said the event also promoted bystander intervention with the goal of "helping to protect the people around you."
Shelley Menear – Garrett College’s director of institutional compliance & safety – said the College appreciated the opportunity to emphasize the importance of consent in relationships.
"The Dove Center always finds such creative ways to engage the students, and even employees, in educating on healthy relationships," said Menear. "According to the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1-in-8 college students are sexually assaulted while in college, so the education and services the Dove Center provides to our campus community are critical."
A steady stream of students participated in the two-hour, drop-in event. The event included art activities, games, prizes, and snacks.
"It’s always been well-received," Hanline said of the event.
The Dove Center’s mission is to provide "safety, advocacy, and counseling to individuals whose lives have been shattered by domestic violence and/or sexual assault" while working to expand public awareness of those issues. A Dove Center staff member comes to Garrett College once a week to conduct outreach with students and staff.
"We highly value our relationship with the Dove Center," said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president. "The Dove Center fulfills an important community mission, and we’re proud to partner with the Center."
