The Empower affinity group held a “kissing booth” event on the Quad  to raise awareness around the importance of consent on Feb. 12.

Empower Advisor Nicole Stahl said the event was an interactive way to remind students of the importance of consent.

“The purpose of holding the Kissing Booth, an event where Empower handed out chocolate kisses while practicing mutual consent, was to playfully remind their peers about the serious issue of gaining consent prior to engaging in any physical interaction,” Stahl said.

Empower leader Agatha Davies ’26 said the leaders took engagement into consideration when planning the event.

“We thought it was important to have a visual demonstration of what true enthusiastic consent looks like and how it can be employed in relationships,” Davies said. “Especially in high school, it’s really important that people know what consent looks, sounds and feels like. There’s a very clear line between what is consent and what is not, so raising awareness about that issue was the larger significance of the event.”

Wellness Director Marci Reichert said the idea of consent is something that should be implemented not only in health lessons but also in the wider culture of high school.

“High school is a critical window,” Reichert said. “National data consistently shows that a significant number of sexual assaults occur between the ages of 15 and 24, and the transition to college can be an especially vulnerable time. If students leave high school without a strong understanding of consent, communication and bystander responsibility, we’ve missed an important opportunity to prepare them. Talking about consent once isn’t enough. Repeated conversations help students build confidence, practice language and internalize expectations. When consent becomes part of everyday dialogue — not a one-time assembly — students are better equipped to make healthy choices, support their peers and enter college and adulthood with a strong foundation for respectful relationships.”

Summer Park ’27 said the event helped normalize conversations about consent.

“By drawing students in with the Kissing Booth idea and Hershey Kiss chocolates, it helped make the topic feel approachable rather than awkward or uncomfortable,” Park said. “It went well because it successfully grabbed attention, got people to stop, engage and spread awareness in a positive, memorable way.”

Empower leader Ava Tan ’26 said the kissing booth addressed the importance of consent in a memorable way.

“The booth was a great opportunity for us to highlight consent as essential in all of our interactions,” Tan said. “It was about building a culture where asking for consent is normal and expected, and the response was super positive. It was fun and lighthearted, but the message also stuck. That balance is super important—making people intrigued, but also reinforcing something powerful.”