The Queen’s ASUS Women’s Empowerment Committee (WEC) held their annual Consent Day event last Friday to raise awareness of consensual sex within the Queen’s community.

Montana Hauser, one of the co-chairs for WEC, told the Journal via e-mail that Consent Day has always been a successful event.

“We usually raise around $100 by donations but it’s more about the community building and the conversations we have with our community that make it so successful,” Hauser said.

“It’s an awareness event and we find that every year we have more people openly discussing and agreeing to consensual sex.”

WEC had a table set up outside of Stauffer Library where they sold baked goods, gave away free hot chocolate and started conversations with passersby about sex.

“We also had a banner with our slogan for the year ‘Ask First,’ which we had people sign as a pledge to participate in open, enthusiastic, consensual sex of any kind,” Hauser said.

She said while there are the occasional people who don’t wish to sign the pledge, there are always more Queen’s students who enjoy having the conversation.

“Usually the Queen’s community is really perceptive and open about talking about consensual sex and this provides that platform,” Hauser said.

“It’s important to recognize the value of positive reception and this ongoing conversation we hope to continue.”

WEC will continue to hold the annual Consent Day in the fall, followed by the organization’s annual production of Down There in the spring.