From Columbia High School Principal Frank Sanchez on October 1, 2026:
Dear Cougars,
Recent news about sexual assault allegations at Cornell University has sparked difficult conversations across the country about consent, respect, accountability, and what we owe one another. While allegations are still being investigated, this moment allows us to talk honestly about something that matters in every community, including here at Columbia High School.
Consent is not a gray area.
Consent means that everyone involved freely and clearly agrees to what is happening. It cannot be assumed. It cannot be pressured, manipulated, or taken for granted. And if someone is intoxicated, unconscious, or otherwise unable to make a decision, they cannot give consent.
Regarding consent, remember what we have reviewed in our health classes:
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Sexual consent requires an active, ongoing, and mutual “yes” from every person involved.
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Silence, passivity, or a lack of physical resistance never equals sexual consent.
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Consent given for one specific act does not automatically apply to any other act.
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Sexual consent can be revoked at any point, even after an activity has already started.
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Previous sexual history or an existing relationship never eliminates the need for present consent.
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An individual retains total sovereignty over their own body regardless of the setting or situation.
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Clear communication before and during intimacy is essential to ensure that consent remains mutual.
Next, I want to challenge you to think beyond consent, especially when we learn that the alleged rape was discussed in a group chat with many fellow students who remained silent.
I want every Columbia student to be an Upstander. An Upstander is someone who doesn’t just stand by when something doesn’t feel right. An Upstander:
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Checks on a friend who may be vulnerable.
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Speaks up when someone is being pressured or disrespected.
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Interrupts a situation that could become unsafe.
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Doesn’t laugh along with jokes that normalize sexual harassment or assault.
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Makes sure a friend gets home safely.
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Gets help from a trusted adult when a situation is beyond what they can handle alone.
You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be an Upstander. Sometimes being an Upstander is simply saying, “Are you okay?” Sometimes it is saying, “That’s not okay.” And sometimes it means finding an adult and getting help.
Looking out for each other is not being a snitch. It is being a friend.
I also want you to remember that responsibility for sexual assault always belongs to the person who chooses to cross another person’s boundaries. It is never the victim’s fault because of what they wore, where they went, what they drank, who they were with, or what they said.
At Columbia, we want to be the kind of community where people feel respected, where boundaries are honored, where students have the courage to speak up, and where no one feels alone when they need help.
So Cougars, don’t just be a bystander. Be an Upstander.
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See something? Check in.
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Hear something? Speak up.
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Worried about someone? Get help.
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Not sure what to do? Find an adult.
You have the power to make Columbia High School a safer, more respectful place—not someday, but right now.
Look out for yourself. Look out for each other. Be an Upstander.
Sincerely,
Frank Sanchez
Principal
