Campus Consent 2.0 – Filling in Gaps Left by Traditional Consent Education

Filling in Gaps Left by Traditional Consent Education

FEATURED BY

LAURA ZAM

Founder & Keynoter

As a survivor of sexual violation, Laura Zam is on a mission to innovate consent practices, delivering programs that fill key gaps left by traditional consent education—harm reduction that truly engages males, empowerment for women & gender minorities, and healing for survivors. As a relationship coach, Certified Sexuality Educator, Certified Trauma Professional, and veteran college educator, Laura brings evidence-based innovation, comprehensive expertise, a background performing Off-Broadway, and next-level interactivity to help students thrive in relationships that form the foundation of future happiness and success. Healthy relationships allow students to reach their full potential.

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people helped to find healthy sexuality through my book, TV appearances, articles, public speaking, and workshops

Healthy Sexual Dialogue

Improv Your Hook-Up: Using Theater to Master Healthy Sexual Dialogue

Workshop Experience or Keynote

How’s your hook-up game? Are you getting the pleasure you want? How about your partner(s)? Despite mandatory consent education, most students lack the sex communication skills needed to navigate safe, equitable, ecstatic intimacy. Research shows campus assault is often associated with miscommunication. This fun, interactive program uses theater improvisation to teach skillful-yet-sexy ways to ask for consent, request specific activities, read non-verbal cues, check-in throughout, and confidently set boundaries. The outcome? In a dorm room at 2 am, you’re prepared.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the 3 stages of sexual communication

Create a “Sexicon” of Words/Phrases for Each Communication Phase

Name 3 Ways to Use Similar Theater Brainstorming for Their Own Peer Education

The faculty and staff who brought Laura Zam to campus were thrilled. This is no mere brainstorming session with students — it is, rather, a pedagogically sound and well-shaped workshop that moves students from “What can we do to change the climate around sexual assault on campuses?” to “Here’s what we can do starting NOW!” I recommend this program most highly for any campus.

The Improv Your Hook-up workshop is amazing. Please go do it, if you get the chance.

I learned a ton from Ms. Zam. She's very open and friendly and full of great knowledge. Her workshop helped me think about relationships in an entirely new way!

The Sexicon is great! I didn't know I could come up with language that I would actually use in a real situation. The workshop was really fun too. Laura did a great job. Everyone in our session loved it.

This session provided valuable insight on topics that are not often talked about and introduced innovative trauma management skills to a group of students that needed them!

Engaging and fun way to talk about really important but sometimes awkward realities of sex!

Pleasure & Power 101

Women and Queer-Specific Keynote

Finally, the pleasure education you’ve been waiting for! In this interactive keynote–for sororities, women’s groups, and select LGBTQ+ groups–we’ll debunk myths related to desire, arousal, and orgasm, myths that keep you disempowered. Armed with this essential sex ed, you’ll learn concrete ways to read your body, voice your truth during encounters, firmly set boundaries, and cultivate confidence. Because of societal expectations and norms, women and queer students are often at a disadvantage in recognizing and championing their own agenda. This session addresses this inequity, as well as intersectional complexity. Participants walk away with the tools and knowledge to ensure that everyone is on the same page—not just in the beginning, but throughout a romantic encounter.

Learning Objectives:

Identify 4 Parts of the Sexual Response Cycle, pertaining to different biological genders.

Quantify their current ability to express needs and boundaries, related to different erotic phases.

Create and practice 1 verbal phrase they can use to redirect a partner, toward more pleasure.

Create and practice 1 verbal phrase they can use to set sexual boundaries

Laura brought tremendous value to Shenandoah University. Her thought-provoking presentation broadened our students’ worldview. We are very happy we brought her to campus.

Laura is hysterical, even with this tough subject. She gave a fantastic presentation that everyone enjoyed. We also learned so much. I honestly never thought about these easy healing hacks. We all feel so inspired now.

I really appreciated the use of theater to talk about sexual issues, and issues of consent. I helped me put myself in the shoes of somebody else in a sexual situation.

This presentation was a huge eye opener, and I learned so much. I loved learning about how we can ask for consent and get proper consent, and also how to heal, during sexual encounters.

Sexual assault is a larger issue on our campus than we thought it was going to be. Learning in this workshop about how to set boundaries was eye-opening.

Reclaiming Body and Self after Sexual Trauma: Three Pillars of Healing

Keynote or Workshop

Did you know more than half the students assaulted on campus came to school having already experienced unhealthy relationships and/or abuse? This workshop, offering practical tools for thriving in recovery, is tailored to students (all genders) who’ve experienced sexual trauma of any kind, before college or during. It’s also appropriate for concerned allies. In a safe, gentle space—where participants will not be asked to share details of their experience—they’ll learn a 3-pillar model that will help them build trust, navigate relationships, rediscover a connection to healthy sexuality, and avoid revictimization. The 3-pillar model can be used on its own, or in combination with other trauma support. Discover how to reclaim your miraculous body, or help a friend who is suffering—so everyone can achieve the love life and education they deserve