I’m normally not one for preemptively justifying my own words, but I think it’s going to be necessary this time. So I’ll go ahead and get a few things out of the way.
One: No one owes you their affection or body. 
Two: The topics covered in this column apply to any situation in which a sexual person of any gender checks out another person of any gender. My argument doesn’t pertain to feminism or sexual orientation. I myself am a staunch feminist and advocate of the “Do Whatever The Hell You Want With Your Genitals, As Long As It Doesn’t Hurt Anyone” mentality.
Three: Please, for the love of whomever you love, do not rape anybody.
With those out of the way, let me get to my actual thesis statement.
I don’t think running a quick scan over someone’s body is sexual objectification. It is never acceptable to reduce a human being to a bullseye for lust, but I certainly wouldn’t equate a brief check-out with a dart. So now I need to define a “brief check-out.”
If you’re physically touching someone, it’s not a brief check-out.
If you’re saying anything that can be described as a catcall, it’s not a brief check-out.
If you’re looking at someone long enough to form an articulate opinion on any of their body parts, it is not a brief check-out.
When I say it’s okay to briefly check someone out, I mean that you shouldn’t be condemned for allowing your eyes to reflexively respond to someone catching your attention and sexual interest. Now, don’t go around trying to pierce anyone’s chest with your eye-beams; that’s rude and downright creepy. But if you find your line of vision getting stuck there for a second or two, you don’t have to feel like a monster; it’s natural.
Sure, we could play it safe. We could walk around campus with blinders, shielding our eyes from everyone we would let into our beds, living in fear of offending anyone. But I think that mentality comes with some negative societal effects.
Over the generations, we humans have done a great job of marching radially outward from the center that is sexual openness. I think we’re above that now. We need to be honest with ourselves.
I’ll speak on behalf of the sexual population of LSU, because I know most people are scared to even hint at the idea:
We like sex. And we like it a lot. If I stop for a double take on you, it doesn’t mean I’m out to get you, or that I don’t respect you. It just means I like what you’ve got.
Yes, rape culture is a very serious and real issue in our world. I absolutely recognize that it’s at the root of the discomfort associated with being checked out. People get raped, and that’s a truly disgusting fact.
Trust me: We in the rest of the bunch are pretty bitter about the bad apples.
Those of us who don’t commit rape still get scowled at for even expressing sexual interest, and that isn’t okay. I just don’t understand what’s so deplorable about being attracted to someone.
If I think you look nice, then I think you look nice. If the feeling isn’t reciprocated, then the feeling isn’t reciprocated. Neither party is at fault. We can both go on with our days.
There are terrible people out there who have made and continue to make us afraid to trust anyone with our sexualities, but I think we can work against that.
Sex is awesome, and we shouldn’t have to be ashamed of wanting it. I think if we can make it a more casual subject matter, we can all get a bit closer to each other. And we won’t have to be so appalled when someone’s eyes drift a little too low for an instant.
We need to celebrate our bodies, because we won’t have them for long.
Take it from me. I know sex like the back of my hand; my right one, that is.
Ryan Monk is a 21-year-old chemical engineering senior from Lake Charles. You can reach him on Twitter @RyanMonkTDR.