2008 Woodie Awards
Positive Promiscuity
LeeAnn Maton
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
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Trampy, titillating or taboo? The many faces of sexuality showed themselves at CARE's recent presentation and discussion entitled "Talk Sex," a presentation of Loyolans' views on sexual issues followed by a discussion as part of Sexual Assault Awareness week.
The evening began when presenters read aloud submissions about sex written by Loyola students for the event. Submitted confidentially through a Web site over the past weeks, the works ranged from prose and poetry to real-life experiences with sexual assault, feminism, sexual orientation, trust and even proper treatment of nipples.
"We all felt it was really important to have a comfortable environment to talk about sex," CARE president sophomore Christa Heilman said, explaining that CARE's own mission statement emphasizes educating the student body about sexual issues.
One presenter read from a humorous essay examining lying about sex, which said,"I lied to my boyfriend. He thinks he's my first. He also thinks he's good." The same writer also bemoaned a double-standard in the animal world, complaining that dolphins have sex all the time and aren't called sluts while some humans are helpless to escape such an onerous label. "[Expletive] dolphins," she complained.
The presentations were also laced with more weighty themes, calling for an awareness and societal dialogue about sexual violence. All the essays' authors were kept confidential to inspire a candid and open discussion. "Sexual assault is not a women's issue. It is a societal issue," one contributor wrote. "I find myself unable to trust men … I didn't think it could happen to me. I wish I had told someone," wrote another author who related a story about a person in a position of authority taking advantage of her. Still others wrote poems talking to God, praising chastity from a spiritual perspective.
One memorable author chose to write candidly about his/her own sexual experiences, sometimes taking very outspoken and unconventional perspectives on such a hot topic. Sick of the "romance and rainbows and flowers, and the dating, waiting, hesitating game," and arguing that sex can be a source of empowerment, one student shared.
The evening began when presenters read aloud submissions about sex written by Loyola students for the event. Submitted confidentially through a Web site over the past weeks, the works ranged from prose and poetry to real-life experiences with sexual assault, feminism, sexual orientation, trust and even proper treatment of nipples.
"We all felt it was really important to have a comfortable environment to talk about sex," CARE president sophomore Christa Heilman said, explaining that CARE's own mission statement emphasizes educating the student body about sexual issues.
One presenter read from a humorous essay examining lying about sex, which said,"I lied to my boyfriend. He thinks he's my first. He also thinks he's good." The same writer also bemoaned a double-standard in the animal world, complaining that dolphins have sex all the time and aren't called sluts while some humans are helpless to escape such an onerous label. "[Expletive] dolphins," she complained.
The presentations were also laced with more weighty themes, calling for an awareness and societal dialogue about sexual violence. All the essays' authors were kept confidential to inspire a candid and open discussion. "Sexual assault is not a women's issue. It is a societal issue," one contributor wrote. "I find myself unable to trust men … I didn't think it could happen to me. I wish I had told someone," wrote another author who related a story about a person in a position of authority taking advantage of her. Still others wrote poems talking to God, praising chastity from a spiritual perspective.
One memorable author chose to write candidly about his/her own sexual experiences, sometimes taking very outspoken and unconventional perspectives on such a hot topic. Sick of the "romance and rainbows and flowers, and the dating, waiting, hesitating game," and arguing that sex can be a source of empowerment, one student shared.