The campus center hosts its fair share of interesting events during the school year. But nothing can rival the annual Sex Fair, hosted today by Tufts Voices for Choice (VOX). With genitalia-shaped cookies, diagrams of vaginas and lap dance lessons from the Tufts Burlesque Group, the Sex Fair — Sex on the Hill — is hard to miss.
In the past, the fair has received a lot of attention, both positive and negative. We at VOX welcome an open dialogue about the intended message of the fair and its actual effects. In fact, creating open dialogue is the main focus of Sex on the Hill. Through this event, VOX hopes to create an atmosphere in which people feel more comfortable talking about sex. The fair shouldn't be condemned for promoting patterns of unhealthy sexual behavior. Instead, it's the beginning of a process of social change about the way young people view sex. We at VOX recognize that the hook-up culture on college campuses can be emotionally and physically unhealthy. However, regardless of a few sex-related games and educational pamphlets, it will probably continue to happen. We are working to remedy the problems associated with this lifestyle through events like Sex on the Hill.
One of the most noticeable aspects of the sex fair is its frank presentation of genitalia, masturbation, sexual fantasies and escapades, preferences and sex in general. While perhaps shocking and potentially uncomfortable, we want to move discussion about sex out of the taboo sector of our society and into an environment in which it isn't ignored. We can't remedy the risky nature of the hook-up culture with silence or a quick fix. An extended dialogue and social change need to happen. Even fostering healthier behaviors for one-night stands or experimentation can make what goes on around college campuses less risky. If we openly acknowledge the sexual patterns of college-aged individuals, we can open a dialogue about sexual boundaries, sexual health, sexual preferences and so many other issues that are typically shoved under the rug because they are scary, uncomfortable or risqué. Our hope is that by generating public conversations about sex, people will feel more comfortable having serious conversations about it with their partners.
Creating these dialogues is incredibly important in light of the alarming sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates among college students. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in two sexually active individuals will contract an STI by the age of 25. It is easy for students at a prestigious institution like Tufts to fall into the trap of thinking that they are immune because they are educated. All couples should be having conversations about their STI history before jumping into bed. We hope that by creating an open atmosphere to discuss sex, the fair will promote people to ask these important questions in the bedroom. Further, an open dialogue about STI history also may encourage people to get tested on a regular basis because they view it as less stigmatized. If we can garner enough support from the Tufts student community about STI testing issues through events like Sex on the Hill, we may be able to demand a more affordable STI testing option from the Tufts bureaucracy for people who are trying to protect themselves and others.
In addition to the important message behind Sex on the Hill's content, the manner in which it is presented is lighthearted and accessible. While we are dealing with serious issues, we present them in a non-severe way. Condom races are both highly entertaining and educational; prizes are awarded to participants who put the condom on a plastic model of a penis the fastest and in the correct way. Learning how to put on a condom during a slightly competitive game is much less stressful than learning in the bedroom with a possibly judgmental partner and much higher consequences if done incorrectly. Unfortunately, because of the statistics, sex education can sometimes be limited to STIs and negative consequences, but it is also about enjoying yourself. We have maps for students to put stickers where they've masturbated or had sex on campus and in the world. We also have a blow-up doll for stickers to be placed in people's favorite spots to be kissed.
The sex fair is important for so many demographics on campus. We approach sex from an orientation-neutral standpoint. While typically homosexual and heterosexual sex is separated, here they are thrown together to foster an environment of inclusiveness. This inclusiveness extends to the sexually active and non-sexually active community. Sex on the Hill includes a number of Tufts groups from campus including Prevention, Awareness, Consent at Tufts (PACT), Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) and Queer Straight Alliance (QSA). This collaboration is meant to promote various types of sexual relationships that may exist in our community. Sex on the Hill is not trying to push everyone into having sex. Instead, the purpose is to get people to ask themselves what they are comfortable with. It also works to break assumptions about what people are and aren't doing behind closed doors.
As you may already know, VOX is a pro-choice group. So we encourage you to make the choice about whether or not you will attend the sex fair. It's a fun and valuable experience that includes cookies, free condoms, games and Hubba Hubba, a sex shop from Boston. We ultimately hope to put this fair on campus every year to promote a more open dialogue about sex on the Tufts campus. We encourage everyone to be a part of this important dialogue.
The Sex Fair: Sex on the Hill will be held in the campus center from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. today.
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Susan Golbe, a member of VOX, is a sophomore majoring in sociology. Lydia Mitts, the co-president of VOX, is a sophomore majoring in art history and community health.
