Virginity, orgasms and fetishes – nothing was too taboo Wednesday night. The Union Program Council and the Student Health Center collaborated to create “Sex in the Dark,” a program intended to engage students in an anonymous dialogue about sexual health. More than 30 students gathered in the Cotillion Ballroom in the Student Union, the lights were turned off and the questions began. Hope McPhatter, Wellness Education coordinator, debunked myths about sexual health and answered the participants’ questions about subjects ranging from the social implications of sex to the effects of genital piercings. “We designed this program to give students a chance to ask questions and talk about whatever they want to talk about without being afraid of having people see them ask questions,” said Cherie Teamer, UPC ideas and issues chairwoman. Teamer said giving students a comfortable environment where they could talk about a taboo topic anonymously was key to the program’s success. The participant who asked the first question during the program said he recently broke up with his girlfriend, and they were continuing to have sex. He said he wanted to know what that meant for their relationship. “If you’re trying to get over this relationship, especially if you broke up in a not-so-good way, it’s probably not a good idea because you have not separated yourself from the relationship,” McPhatter said. “Basically, you’re still in that relationship, or you’re friends with benefits at this point.” Whispers, applause and laughter emerged when a student referenced the President Bill Clinton in his question. “When I was growing up, I was told by the president of the United States that oral sex does not constitute a sexual act,” he said. “Is that true or not?” McPhatter said some people define sex as strictly intercourse between two people, and others think sex is any sexual exchange of bodily fluids. One participant, who did not want to be identified, said the room could have been darker to ensure anonymity of the students. “It wasn’t completely dark, but I felt like it was a fun atmosphere because you got to ask questions without really being judged,” he said. Another student said she participated in the program because she liked the idea of anonymity among students. “It was entertaining and informative,” she said. “I thought it was interesting because the questions were straight from other students, not just an average sex talk.”
—-Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]