Participants didn’t argue baseball stats nor exchange dinner recipes at the Nov. 20 discussion “Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby!,” hosted by Students for Choice.
“Students for Choice is a Wayne State organization designed for those who believe that the government does not have the power to mandate the decisions one makes with her own body,” said Madison Marcus, SFC vice president. “It has nothing really to do with abortion. It’s just that the choice should always be there.”
In her introduction, Marcus stressed that frequent conversations about sexuality can be a means of understanding and making healthy choices.
”This is a night about openness, respect and appreciation for opinions that are different from our own,” she said.
In a room of 27 people, each took a role in discussing why sex is a topic commonly shied away from, and ways that embracing sexuality can make you a more secure individual.
”Sometimes I don’t see how someone could be attracted to me,” said Joseph Sindone, a senior in the psychology and Asian studies programs. “But if you talk about it, it gives you the self-esteem to accept it.”
One member of the audience raised the question of stereotypes: Is sex as much of an emotional connection for men as it is women?
“Women aren’t the only ones who get attached,” said Marsailis Bryant, a junior in engineering. “Guys get attached. People get attached.”
Mary White, the clinical instructor for the College of Nursing and director of the Campus Health Center, was thankfully around to debunk a couple bedroom myths.
On sex with two condoms, she said, “It doesn’t increase the protection; it increases the friction and therefore the rate of breakage.”
White admonished students to get regular checkups.
“If you’re going to be sexually active, you need to take the responsibility to get yourself tested,” she said.
If you are under 25 years old and have health insurance, you can be tested for free at the Health Center.
Also present at the discussion was Lindsay Cassidy, Oakland University student by day, Pure Romance “Girls-Night-In Expert” by night, who throws in-home parties for women.
“Just invite your girlfriends over and I bring the party,” she said.
“Through this job,” Cassidy said, “I’m able to help people explore their sexuality and their individualism through communication, education and exploration.”
She arrived with an assortment of spa items, lubricants and toys (that stayed hidden from the male audience).
Cassidy passed around an array of effective Pure Romance products, including an edible lubricant that numbs the back of the user’s throat and thus deflates the gag reflex.
Author’s note: After a shocking sample, I could not feel myself swallowing my potato chips).
”It was a good discussion,” White said afterward. “A bunch of students got together and approached their sexuality in a very mature way. It’s important for people to be familiar and comfortable with themselves and with others.”
”It was helpful,” said Eleanor Kotov, a sophomore in biochemistry. “Learning about the G-spot was fascinating.”
5 comments
Some may say I have a high tolerance for most controversial topics during lunch, but I feel that it gives color to any day.
To be completely frank, sex is a natural part of everyone's life and we should not be ashamed to talk about it in public.