Millbrook Welcomes Jonathan Kalin to Address Students
Millbrook welcomed Jonathan Kalin, founder and executive director of Party With Consent, to campus Monday evening.
Kalin created Party With Consent during his sophomore year at Colby College through the organization Male Athletes Against Violence. The goal of Party with Consent is to educate students about sexual assault and end it on college campuses.
Kalin opened his student address by sharing his boarding school experience, his passion for basketball, and his journey at Colby College. Basketball was a central part of his college experience, and his coach introduced him to the core values of the team his first day on the court: selflessness, toughness, and accountability.
“Accountability was the most difficult word for me to embody each season,” said Kalin.
This was because each season presented new challenges, especially during his junior year when a new coach put him on the bench. As a captain who did not see much playing time, he struggled to determine how to lead his team and maintain accountability in a leadership role without having time on the court.
It was while reflecting on this challenge during his junior year that he realized that he could be accountable from the bench, and he rallied his teammates to learn choreographed chants and movements. Their tremendous spirit was so contagious that they received national recognition on ESPN and local news stations.
“I learned after this experience that accountability could be embodied under any circumstance, and that it can make positive change. I realized that it could be channeled to help other communities beyond the basketball team,” said Kalin.
He used his discovery and motivation to found Party With Consent and has continued to use it to fuel its strong momentum. The organization is now active on over 30 campuses nationwide, and Kalin has been recognized by The Clinton Foundation, Huffington Post, TEDx, and TIME among other global publications and organizations.
Sexual assault is an important issue, and Millbrook is grateful to have been able to bring a young leader to campus to engage students in reflection on the heavy topic. As Kalin noted in his discussion, decreasing sexual assault starts with an understanding of accountability and consent.
“Being honest and authentic in relationships, sexual or otherwise, will always come with a greater outcome than those that rely on deceit, coercion, and manipulation,” he said.
His message about sexual assault, and relationships in general, boils down to honesty, which is a quality that is necessary for success through all life stages. It is important to have these conversations and we thank Jonathan Kalin for his time, leadership, and the sharing of his story.
Video from his address can be found on Millbrook in Motion.
