In a statement issued to the faculty, staff and students, the dean, John Patrick Dwyer, 51, described the incident as a "consensual encounter."

According to accounts they gave to the police and friends, each had consensual sexual encounters with Mr. Assange that became nonconsensual.

Rather, they said, it was a "consensual encounter" in which he agreed to have his bags searched.

Defense lawyers had claimed that the young woman made up a story about what was a consensual sexual encounter.

If this is true, it establishes a motive for the woman to (falsely) accuse Kahn of rape after a consensual sexual encounter.

The women have said that consensual sexual encounters with Mr. Assange became nonconsensual when condoms were no longer in use.

He denied the allegations, saying he had consensual sexual encounters with the two women.

Assange strongly denies any wrongdoing but admits having unprotected but consensual encounters with two women during a visit to Sweden in August.

Under hypnosis and the administration of sodium amytal, the man denied the charges, and said that he and the woman had engaged in a consensual encounter.

Typically, the female dominant determines the actual activities within the context of a consensual encounter.