CU students take mandatory class on decision-making in an effort to curb sexual assaults

The University of Colorado-Boulder is aggressively trying to curb sexual assault among students. 

Sexual assault has been a high-profile issue on campus since the recent conviction of CU student Austin Wilkerson. Wilkerson was convicted of raping a fellow student in 2014 and sentenced in August to two years on work release and 20 years' probation. The case prompted outrage in Boulder and across the nation.

As classes begin at the university this week, all incoming Freshman will be required to take a course called “Bystander Intervention.” While there is a focus on sexual assault prevention, the course also teaches students “life skills” as they navigate the world away from home.

“The skills you need for dealing with someone who has had way too much to drink or has hurt themselves are the same for situations where there’s a potential sexual assault. So that bystander framework helps people see, 'Oh this is relevant to me,'” said instructor Teresa Wroe.