Studies show that alcohol is involved in the majority of sexual assaults on college campuses. Alcohol blurs the line between consensual sexual activity and sexual assault even more because alcohol impairs perceptions and affects our ability to accurately judge a situation, express ourselves, respond to risks, communicate effectively, and understand others.
Illinois Law and NU policy state that if a person is incapacitated from alcohol or drugs, he or she is incapable of consenting to sexual activity. According to Northwestern's Student Handbook, "the use of alcohol and/or other drugs by one or more of the parties involved will not be considered as a mitigating factor in cases of alleged sexual assault. In fact, such use may be considered as an aggravating factor if the effect of such use is deemed to have made the complaining party incapable of giving consent."
A survivor of sexual assault should not let alcohol/drug use at the time of victimization stop her/him from reporting the assault to the police or seeking treatment at the hospital, even if s/he is underage. Both University Police and Northwestern University hold the well-being of the victim as their primary concern and will not hold an underage victim in violation of alcohol policy.
