Rape culture has become an increasingly relevant topic on college campuses, and Cornell has been doing a great job on working to educate students on issues including sexual assault and harassment. Part of Cornell’s efforts to make the campus a safe place for students is Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which this year included a talk by Kate Harding. Kate is the author of Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It and is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of rape culture on college campuses. Before Kate’s talk at Cornell, she joined us for dinner at Rose. Although sexual assault is a sensitive topic, we were able to have an informative discussion on what is happening around us. Something I found interesting that we discussed was “sexual contracts” and apps that ensure both parties are consenting before engaging in sexual activity. At first, I thought this seemed like a good idea. To me, it seemed like this would prevent men from being falsely accused, and would also help make sure that both parties are consenting, as sometimes this can be unclear. However, Kate informed us that while these contracts and apps have benefits, consent is something that has to be ongoing. While consenting at the beginning of the act is important, an individual can change their mind at any time, something that a contract could not cover. However, it is a significant step in trying to prevent rape and to help rape victims.