"We go to school for so many years and delve into rich and complex texts, yet there is no course on one of the most basic, and most mysterious, human needs: the female orgasm," senior Chelsea Toder, co-President of VOX, said.
Last night, students received such an opportunity in "The Female Orgasm," a program run by professional sex educators Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot.
Barnum 008 was packed well beyond capacity as the seminar began.
"We know that very often speakers come to campus and they start out by asking people to turn off their cell phones, but we just ask you guys to set your phones to vibrate," Solot said.
The two then played the scene from the film "When Harry Met Sally" (1989) in which Meg Ryan fakes her orgasm in a restaurant.
As the lights came up, the speakers asserted their goals. "We welcome you all here in support of you making decisions about sex that are healthy, responsible and right for you," Miller said.
Solot spoke of the origins of her interest in the topic, and stressed the need for self-awareness with sexuality.
Her own openness at age 26 helped her to notice a lump in her breast and catch cancer early, she said.
The speakers then discussed some popular rumors.
"We want to hear some of the different messages that you have heard about the subject of female orgasms.
This is one of those topics that has all this information floating around it - some of it is true, some of it might not be true, some of it maybe nobody even knows."
Can all women have orgasms?
Solot pointed out this is a real, but rare condition. Do 70 percent of women fail to achieve orgasm during intercourse?
According to Solot, it's true.
Next, the speakers introduced sources of rumors about sexuality: popular magazines. The speakers also touched on negative childhood conditioning and the effects of traumatic experiences on perceptions of sexuality.
Miller and Solot were mildly critical of the high school sex ed approach that emphasizes simply saying no to sex.
"You reach a point in your life when you're like, 'I'm ready to say yes to sex,'" Solot said. "All anybody's prepared you for your entire life is how to say no."
Next, the seminar was split by sex. The male section continued to discuss rumors, like the misconception that female orgasms are significantly more powerful than male orgasms, while the female section involved a brainstorm of effective methods for achieving orgasm.
When the two groups merged again, the men presented with the list that the women had compiled. Vibrators and sexual fantasies were favorites.
Yet, a common theme emerged: with the female orgasm a highly individual process, there is no one single effective way to please a woman physically.
Instead, the speakers emphasized a need for communication and adaptation between partners.
Miller and Solot, both educated at Brown University, have appeared on "The O' Reilly Factor", "The Early Show", "Saturday Night Live" and in many other newspapers, radio broadcasts and television shows.
They have been in a relationship since 1993.
On their Web site, www.sexualityeducation.com, the couple describes the usual process of a college visit.
"In our programs, we use a mixture of interactive activities, lecture, discussion, multimedia, funny stories and question and answer. Nothing embarrasses us, and no topic is too basic or too risqu?©."
The program was sponsored by VOX, a student organization that attempts to raise public awareness about reproductive rights and sex-related health concerns.
"In essence, what VOX is attempting to do with this event is invite men and women to come together to ask real questions about their social and intimate lives to people who will candidly and accurately provide them with answers," Toder said.
VOX sometimes has difficulty attracting men to such events, however.
"VOX feels that it is critical for both sexes to come together and learn about sexual relationships - it is, after all, something that is shared," Toder said.
