I loved college. I really did. I have fond memories and friends I’ll forever hold dear. But, I am still shaking my head at Allegheny’s constant emphasis on sex. Which is why the recent revelation that my school hosted a sex ed course, which featured a masturbation tutorial, in our campus chapel should not have come as a surprise.
I guess I wanted to give my school administration the benefit of the doubt. Surely they would leave the last, most sacred place on campus free from sexuality? How they decided an event called “I Heart the Female Orgasm” would be appropriate to host inside a house of God, is beyond my Allegheny education.
This is not only the most recent, but the worst, example of the sexual immorality long paraded at my school. For four years, I could not escape posters advertising talks like “Sex and Chocolate” or hear one of my professors sneak a sexual reference into their lectures. They never failed to make me blush (how my American Literature professor managed to find eroticism in Huckleberry Finn, I’ll never know.)
As a senior last year, I became even more unnerved when I learned the Feminist Coalition was going to host a “SexFest” on campus – an occasion, the flier purported, intended to provide “information about sexual health.” But really, its other intention was clear: making sex seem like a party. What’s more, these girls were going to hold the event in our main Campus Center lobby. However, this time I did more than frown – I actedto exploit the event. The feminists on campus found out and before long Jezebel.com reactedin (not-so) kind.
This is the poster that sparked my outrage (I’ll leave alone the images of same sex couples for now):
Even though my article caused controversy and I felt as though I had to keep a low profile on campus the next day, I don’t regret writing it. I’m a journalist. But, more importantly, I’m student and, most importantly, I’m a young woman. Therefore, I have a say in what happens on my campus, especially when it comes to female sexual representations. Girls, you don’t have to let the feminists on your campus represent you. Use your own words to challenge theirs.
Sex and college are undoubtedly linked in the minds of many students and sadly, these inappropriate school-sponsored events are only making the bond stronger.
Condoms don’t have a place in higher education.
I don’t want to face the fact my student fees went to fund the baking of “vagina cupcakes” or provided contraception to my peers. I yearn for the day when Allegheny, and other universities like it, realize that just because they're private schools, it doesn't mean they have to talk about private parts.
