Avoiding Sexual Assault Accusations: A Punch List for Young Men

1. Treat women as equals who have all the autonomy over their bodies as you do of yours.

2. Review your past behaviors and words with women and humbly reconcile where needed and possible. Humility, contrition, and responsibility go a long way.

3. Avoid intoxication, contexts of intoxication, and intoxicated women. (If you are incapable of sober fun, there are other issues to address).

4. Advocate for women by intervening on situations where it could be a woman is in trouble, vulnerable, or compromised. This also means confronting your friends if they share such stories.

5. No means no means no means no means no. Even if you really really really think it means yes. Better to err on the side of safety and disappointment than a sexual assault accusation.

6. An intoxicated "yes" is always a "no." Always! (See #3)

7. Read up on research related to false accusations of sexual assault if you are worried about it. The research should put you at greater ease.

8. At the same time, avoid contexts where an accusation of sexual assault could be made. Don't let yourself be in a compromising situation, even if "nothing happened." Not everyone has the same definition of "nothing happened."

9. Just because your body is raging with hormones does not mean anyone owes you anything.

10. Practice the discipline of learning to say no to yourself.

Adhere to this list and the chances of being falsely accused of sexual assault are almost zero.