Even for those with an empty calendar the week of Valentine’s Day, the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) came to the rescue with an entire week dedicated to Valentine-themed events. Their week-long initiative to celebrate healthy relationships had much to offer for Ramapo students, with events happening every single day from Monday through Friday.
On their Instagram page, @rcnj_ovp, a calendar of events could be found outlining the fun activities planned for lovebirds across campus. Healthy Relationship Week had attendees of all relationship statuses enjoying Valentine’s Day fun.
On Wednesday Feb. 12, OVP hosted an event in their office where people could craft consent grams to share with their valentines. Their main focus on Wednesday was the importance of consent with a romantic partner, a topic that is highly relevant among college students.
“We wanted to hone in on the topic of consent,” said Gracyn Nutt, Student Outreach Coordinator for OVP. “Our goal is to make it less stigmatized, since a lot of people think consent is not cool.”
Despite the office’s small size, the room had a cozy and welcoming feeling. Every single employee greeted attendants with a smile and willingness to answer any questions they may have. There was no doubt that this was a safe space.
The office provided many different materials for crafting the perfect consent gram. Laid out on a table was a plethora of candy — from Starburst to Skittles to Twix to Hershey. Crafters could put their candies in clear bags and seal them with monochromatic twist ties — also offered by the office.
OVP also laid out consent-related messages that attendants could put in their bags. Vibrant pieces of paper were on display, each with a different phrase one could use while asking for consent. Some were more vague, with tamer options such as, “Are you comfortable?” and “Does this feel okay?” Others were more forward, like “Is it okay if I touch you here?”
These papers not only highlighted the importance of consent but also emphasized that sex is okay to talk about. Crafters could choose to include a packet of lubricant or flavored condoms in their consent grams as well.
After leaving the event, the intended message was loud and clear to students — consent is necessary for any healthy relationship. Through a variety of different events hosted this past week, the office helped Roadrunners celebrate healthy relationships and, more importantly, show them how to get there.
bkeatin1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Brigid Keating
