Colleges host 'sex week'

Is 'Dirty Talk' on your syllabus this semester?

By Kristin Wong Mar 18, 2013 6:04PM

Spring is in the air, and for quite a few colleges, so is "Sex Week."

Sex Week is a full week of classes and events dedicated to sex and relationship topics; Yale, Harvard and a handful of other universities have made it an annual tradition. Yesterday, for example, Brown University wrapped up their weeklong sex-ed agenda with a "Lace and Leather Burlesque Workshop."

Eric Rubenstein and Jacqueline Farber, two Yale College graduates, organized the first ever Sex Week in 2002. Yale describes the week as "an interdisciplinary sex education program designed to pique students’ interest through creative, interactive, and exciting programming."

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Harvard hosted its first Sex Week just last year. Organizers noticed there were a variety of campus events available on sex, love and gender, and they wanted to find a way to connect them.

Harvard's Samantha Meier is co-president of Sex Week, and, according to her, the University's faculty and administration have been supportive:

“Even our office of career services has signed on for an event,” Meier said.

According to LiveScience, many colleges use titillating titles like, "Sex and Chocolate in the Dark" and "Dirty Talk" simply to get students in the door. The goal is then to open a dialogue about sex and relationship topics in a comfortable setting. And while the classes take place on campus, the environment is much more intimate than you'd probably expect from a university:

"Celebrate Sex Week with an open discussion about all things sex in a safe, comfortable environment," reads Brown's Sex Week event list. "Bring blankets, pillows, friends, and questions for a night of cozy conversation in a dark, anonymyzing space."

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Perhaps not surprisingly, Sex Week hasn't been immune to controversy, especially at Yale, where porn stars have occasionally been asked to speak. Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club," a talk show that airs on the Christian Broadcasting Network, recently denounced the college tradition. Guest Nathan Harden, author of "Sex and God at Yale," said:

“There’s really a war being waged on the mind by the faculty and administration…Why would anybody send a little girl to Yale to think that she might get subjected to sadomasochism?”

Porn star "Maggie Mayhem" was invited to Yale last year to contribute to a discussion on ethics and pornography. She sought to help answer the question, "Is it ethical to film sex?"

And while a course like "Dirty Talk" might sound explicit, it's supposedly less about bedroom behavior and more about cultivating closeness with one's partner. As one student told the University of Southern California's "Neon Tommy" publication:

"It was just like, being consensual and comfortable in expressing yourself with your partner."

What do you think? Is "Sex Week" too over the top for college?

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Photo: College sex week / Brown University (© Kenneth C. Zirkel/Getty Images)

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57Comments

Newest

Apr 2, 2013 1:54AM

This is a prime example of the immoral fks that make up our so called "higher education" system today.

Previous replies

Nick70

Apr 1, 2013 10:57PM

Not for nothing but how about focusing on the things that truly matter? What about the skills and knowledge needed to make it through life?
Sex is something that the parents should be teaching their kids, not the school. And the worst thing is to seek advice from porn stars. They offer nothing beneficial. The sex they have on screen is devoid of any caring and compassion. It's all about selfish lust.

Previous replies

John W (Father Cynic)

Apr 1, 2013 9:32PM

AND the class will be taught by Sister Mary Elephant.

Previous replies

Ricardo Haskins (ricardoh)

Apr 1, 2013 9:08PM

you can't go to college to gain wisdom anymore; you have to go so you can become a total fool and become stupid and in debt.

what a bunch of pathetic degenerate snot nosed pukes.

Previous replies

TIDEWATER27

Apr 1, 2013 6:11PM

When will the classes on 'morals', 'ethics', and 'values' be taught?

Previous replies

old Recondo

Apr 1, 2013 5:50PM

Did they invite a Christian to talk about saving yourself for your future mate? Heck no that would be "divisive"

Previous replies

johnpaul

Apr 1, 2013 5:30PM

Well, all I can say is that these are our tax dollars at work. Don't the taxpayers fund public universities? Oh, and parents at least you know your daughters are having fun while they learn.

Previous replies

World gone mad2012

Apr 1, 2013 5:03PM

Well I think this is a good idea. People don't want to think about sex. Parents they don't talk about sex with there children. This is why your daughters are having sex so young and with a older more experienced guys. We have forgotten to educate our children on the most important decision they are going to make. The first time they have sex. There should be more education about sex for our children when they are teenagers. If the schools and parents don't start teaching your daughters about sex. There will be an older boy who will be happy to show them in the back of there car. My mother had a sex talk with me and my sister when I was 12 years old. I didn't have my first sexual experiance until I was 20years old. I am also 6 feet 3 inchs and 200 lbs. good looking as well. You need to start watching your daughtes again.