‘Who can tell me what sexual violence is?’ The trainer looks around the classroom. Most students duck away behind their computer screens, some put on a thinking face. ‘Sexual violence exists on a spectrum’, she explains. ‘Of course, there’s rape, but sharing nude pictures that have been sent to you is also sexual violence.’

I’m at a mandatory Title IX training, where we learn how we can become ‘positive bystanders’ when we see something happening. We are being told what to do when we see someone being assaulted or harassed: step in, or call for help.

It all sounds like common sense to me: if you see someone getting attacked, of course you’ll call the police. But apparently, that’s not so standard here.

I have started to notice that American universities feel like they have to raise their students. Not just academically, but actually teaching them how to take care of themselves and how to behave in society. People don’t call their university their alma mater without reason: American schools literally are caring mothers for their pupils.

There are condom workshops, tips for staying healthy, dietary advice sessions, and study planning meetings. Things that I feel like I’ve already had in elementary and primary school, are considered absolutely necessary for college students.

The university is basically an overly protective parent: the dining halls make sure you’re well fed (although their definition of ‘well’ is a lot greasier than I’m used to), there are alarm phones all over the campus for whenever you feel unsafe, and you can bump into a police officer when you leave your room at any hour. And most of all, they try to make sure that you don’t have sex by putting you in a room with someone else and having signs saying that ‘state law dictates that you cannot give consent if you’re under the influence of alcohol.’ Planning on having a happy end to your night out? Mother University won’t allow it.

Read Timo Nijssen's blogs here