Posted on 05/03/2007 8:50:14 AM PDT by pabianice
gcollins@student.umass.edu.
Vox: Students For Choice's decision to hold the event, "Sex on the Lawn," today warrants severe criticism. Held for the second straight year by Vox on the Student Union lawn, the event intends to "promote positive, healthy sexuality and to make the community aware of the information regarding sexual health and also of local resources," according to its event profile on Facebook.com. Among various activities scheduled are a "Show Me Your O-Face" orgasm contest, in which pictures will be taken of people's facial expressions during fake orgasms, and a sexual bake sale, during which cookies will be decorated in the shape of penises.
These initiatives continue an offensive trend that started last year at the first "Sex on the Lawn" event. Balloons were blown up in the shape of penises, a "Captain Condom" costume worn by a student greeted visitors, and condoms were available to the public.
Contrary to the intentions of the event's organizers, very little education and "positive sexuality" are being promoted by holding such an event. The messages conveyed by this public display of sexuality are unequivocally the antithesis to real sexual education.
Genuine sexual education does not attempt to portray sexuality in an amusing manner, but rather in a serious light - no Captain Condom, balloons, or games. By abstaining from promoting games and activities intended to be entertaining, Vox would show that sex should not be seen in the realm of fun and games, but rather of personal choice, responsibility and privacy.
Sexual education should be based exclusively around these elements because sex is primarily a private choice that should be made responsibly. Vox leaders and "Sex on the Lawn" supporters directly suggest that sex should be a public topic by supporting both people who dress up in sexually inappropriate costumes on the campus lawn and the public display of sexually explicit balloons.
The event also implies that it should be the duty of public organizations to supply condoms to the public. Doing so removes the responsibility from individuals to make the personal decision to buy condoms without being influenced by external groups. More importantly, it reflects that Vox has very low expectations of human beings to make these choices in a private and responsible manner without relying on groups like Vox to help them.
Instead of endorsing public availability of condoms, Vox leaders should praise the decision of RAs to make available condoms on their particular floor, such as placing them in a paper support attached to their door. This does not suggest that sex should be openly discussed in a humorous way, a message "Sex on the Lawn" transmits, but rather in a confidential manner for the parties involved.
The availability of pamphlets and brochures containing information about STDs and contraceptives is not as reprehensible as that of condoms, but these should still be limited to UMass Health Services. It is important for people to be aware of this information, but the responsibility should be in the hands of the individual, rather than Vox, to obtain it. Relying on public forums creates a strong level of dependency on groups who have not just a self-proclaimed moral agenda, but also a political agenda in organizing events like "Sex on the Lawn."
In a larger sense, the point is not to debate whether today's activities are entertaining or funny. It is whether this event contributes positively to the effort to have people make responsible sexual decisions. For instance, Vox should cite statistics showing how the rate of STDs has reduced since the implementation of the modern form of sex education, which started in the 1960s and has continued on to today with groups such as Vox and Planned Parenthood. It should highlight studies disclosing whether an individual's amount of sexual partners, a number relevant to the transmission of STDs, has lowered since sex ed's inception.
Additionally, few will argue that Vox does not have a right to hold such an event. Yet the issue is the judgment and integrity of Vox and like-minded student groups who want to promote "positive sexuality" but only by their distorted conception of it as something to be presented in an entertaining manner.
Those who want to learn about sex in an amusing format dismiss criticism of "Sex on the Lawn." They assert that the event is just an opportunity for people to be more receptive to sexual awareness through an entertaining venue.
But many other people feel the topic is a serious and private matter that should be discussed in decentralized settings without the intention of portraying it in an amusing light. And until Vox promotes events that only convey this message, rather than organizing initiatives such as "Sex on the Lawn," then they should not be considered a group that legitimately promotes positive sexual education.
I think it is immoral the way they are promoting premarital sex. I’m not old enough to remember it, but I know there used be a day when sex was a private matter.
"That's never happened before. Honest!"
That wasn’t necessary!
LOL... sobering... isn’t it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.