The Guilfordian

"Consent is the freedom to say 'spank me daddy' to your partner during sex," said senior Joe Pelcher during "Sex, Lies, and the Morning After" (SLMO).

Presented by seniors Ana Martinez, Michael O'Malley, and Madeleine Pope, SLMO was performed by Guilford students on Nov. 1 in affiliation with Students Against Rape Culture (SARC).

"The vignettes present very complex issues regarding sexual assault, and consent, or shared permission for sexual activity in a dramatically simplified form," Martinez said.

While the crowed laughed as the actors mocked the craziness of the college party scene, the motivation behind the production of SLMO was serious.

"Only three percent of rapes on college campuses are reported (to the police)," Martinez said during the show. This low number represents the shame that rape victims often feel after being assaulted.

According to RapeHelp.com, many women feel that being raped or sexually assaulted was partially their fault because they did not clearly say no or withdraw consent during foreplay.

SLMO aimed to erase this victim guilt and show students how to clearly give or withdraw consent before or during sexual intercourse.

"We can work together to end sexual violence and change our culture," said senior women's studies major Katie Yow. "But first we need to talk about it."

The first skit began the dramatized dialogue that Yow insisted be started. Sophomore Mary Pearl Monnes was disgraced when Joe Pelcher continued to fill up her cup of coffee after she clearly told him to stop. Monnes felt violated that her wishes had been ignored.

During the next vignette, an innocent man, first-year David McKinley-Ward reported being robbed. When Michael O'Malley, the policeman, arrived, he accused McKinley-Ward of looking as if he had wanted to be robbed.

Suggesting that McKinley-Ward "was asking for it" by wearing a nice jacket and shoes is similar to the explanation that numerous rapists use when attempting to excuse their actions. According to RapeHelp.com, many rapists and attackers reported that the victim seemed like, but did not say that, they wanted to have sex.

The actors began to mock the college party scene during the third vignette. Junior Nasimeh Easton was flirting with Katie Yow and moving progressively closer to her on the couch. As Easton moved in for what viewers expected to be a kiss, she asked Yow for two hundred dollars, a metaphor for sex.

"No!" Yow said. Easton continued to pressure Yow, invading her personal space further, but Yow wouldn't budge. Yow made it clear that while not consenting isn't always easy, it's vital to maintaining self-respect and security.

While the first three vignettes featured two actors at a time, the last two simultaneously involved all of the cast members and directors.

In the fourth skit cast members offered various definitions of what consent is, and ways that it can be expressed.

"Consent is fully conscious and confident intimacy," Pelcher said. "It's about safer and better sex."

The rest of the cast echoed similar messages before transitioning to the final vignette.

The play concluded with "Sex Kwan Doe", an x-rated martial arts class. Michael O'Malley played a karate instructor teaching his fellow cast members the three principles that comprise consent.

"Communication, observation, and respect equals consent!" the cast shouted, mimicking their instructor.

On that collective and empowering chant, the cast joined hands and bowed.

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