From the Ivy League to public universities to community colleges, sexual assault on college campuses has become a sweeping nationwide epidemic impossible to ignore. ABC News’ “Nightline” tackles this growing problem made ever more complicated by binge drinking and the hook-up culture on college campuses with “Consent on Campus: A Nightline Event.” “Nightline” brings together important voices on this controversial issue to one of the largest campuses in the country, Penn State. Can consent be clearly defined? Is it easier in theory than in practice? What does “yes means yes” really mean? And what are colleges doing to educate their students?
Moderated by anchor Juju Chang, “Consent on Campus: A Nightline Event” brings together people with unique perspective on this issue, including Ian Tolino, known on campuses as “consent bro” for his peer-to-peer education; Tove Danovich, who says she froze up during an alleged sexual assault her freshman year in college; C.D. Mock, a concerned father and a vocal critic of the effectiveness of the consent movement after his son was accused of sexual assault; Kim Lau, a defense attorney who specializes in college disciplinary cases; and Dr. Cheryl Arutt, a clinical psychologist who has been helping sexual assault victims recover from trauma for over 20 years. An overwhelming number of Penn State students came out to see an improv performance called “Sex Signals” from Catharsis Productions, a group that travels the country using humor and improvisation to act out scenarios as a creative and thought-provoking way to teach students about consent.
“Consent On Campus: A Nightline Event” airs on the “Nightline” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 late-night broadcast (12:35 a.m., 2/25) on the ABC Television Network. The conversation will continue at @Nightline, #ConsentOnCampus.
Juju Chang, Dan Harris and Byron Pitts are the co-anchors of “Nightline.” Roxanna Sherwood is the executive producer.
