Maine Maritime Academy

Department of Residential Life

 

Sexual Assault Resources

DEFINITIONS

Sexual Assault refers to any sexual act without the explicit consent of the recipient of the behavior. In many cases, this may involve force.

Consent shall be defined as the act of willingly and verbally agreeing to engage in specific sexual contact or conduct. Psychologically pressuring an individual, or any attempt to take advantage of an individual under duress or incapable of making a decision on her or his own is a direct violation of MMA's Sexual Assault Policy.

This includes situations in which an individual is under the influence of alcohol, drugs and/or prescribed medications. Force may include, but is not limited to, the use of or display of a weapon, physical battering or immobilization of the other person.

Rape is the most serious form of sexual assault and it is also the most extreme form of behavior prohibited by this policy. Rape refers to penetration, however slight, accomplished through force and against the wishes of the other person. Maine Law has replaced the charge of rape with the charge of gross sexual assault.

Acquaintance Rape is sexual assault by a date, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, casual friend or an acquaintance constitutes acquaintance rape. Regardless of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, the same criminal law, campus regulations and penalties apply.

Sexual Contact includes touching intimate parts of the body, including thighs, genitals, buttocks, the pubic region or the breast/chest area or the clothing covering those parts and/or using intimate parts of the body to touch another individual.

*All information taken from the Community Code of Conduct, Part IV:  Section B (Student Handbook).