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New State Law Defines Consensual Sex, Aims to Fight Campus Assaults

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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a law that makes California the first state in the country to legally define consensual sex. The “yes means yes” law aims to improve how colleges investigate and prevent sexual assaults by requiring “an affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement” for sex. Victims’ advocates are cheering the measure — but critics say it’s too broad and puts an unfair burden of proof on those falsely accused of sexual assault.

Guests:

Sofie Karasek, senior at UC Berkeley, survivor of sexual assault and co-founder of the advocacy group End Rape on Campus

Cathy Young, contributing editor for Reason Magazine

Evette Castillo Clark, dean of students at St. Mary's College of California

Michael O'Connor, law professor at the University of La Verne near Los Angeles

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