You think college students know sex? Tonight, Dr. June Reinisch will ask you to think again. At 9 p.m. in Cabot Auditorium, Dr. Reinisch will be giving a lecture entitled "Sexual Myths: Art, History, Culture, Erotica and the Demimonde." As the second lecturer of the Tufts Burlesque Troupe's new "After Hours" speaker series, Dr. Reinisch brings a host of remarkable academic credentials to a field that is often made light of in college communities. The director emeritus of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Dr. Reinisch stood at the forefront of sex research in America and continues to carefully keep her finger on the pulse of sexuality today.
Last semester, the Burlesque Troupe inaugurated its "After Hours" speaker series to promote healthy sexuality and body image on campus. The troupe welcomed Grant Stoddard, acclaimed author and sex columnist, to speak about his experiences, writing, and what it truly means to have a healthy sexuality. After the success of the event, the troupe invited Dr. Reinisch to address sexuality from her impressive background in science and research.
As the former director of the Kinsey Institute, the national epicenter of sex research, Dr. Reinisch oversaw the creation of resources for scholars, programs of research, presentation of interdisciplinary conferences and seminars, provision of information services for the general public and development of student-oriented sexuality information online. Dr. Reinisch served as director of the Kinsey Institute and the department of psychology at Indiana University from 1982 to 1993. Aside from her work at the institute, Dr. Reinisch has a very colorful and interesting background, including, according to Dr. Reinisch, years in a band, a very successful career in the recording industry in the '60s, and extensive work at the New York City Museum of Sex. She often speaks at universities and focuses a great deal of her time on providing accurate sexual health information to young people.
Tufts has seen speakers on sexuality in the past, but none have come from as prestigious an academic and research-based background as Dr. Reinisch. Her lecture will provide much-needed academic and scholarly validation to a field that is extremely important to college students and is often treated inappropriately. By introducing reputable and informative speakers about human sexuality on campus, Tufts can spark and continue important dialogues regarding young people's perceptions of themselves, their body image, their sexuality and how these issues affect their relationships with each other. In an environment of tolerance and comfort, students can create open discourses about this personal topic and develop a sense of camaraderie and community.
In tonight's lecture, Dr. Reinisch is sure to excite with erotic art samples spanning the past 6,000 years. Historically, sexuality has been an integral part of human behavior throughout history and across cultures, and yes, it has all been done before! Tufts students are not alone in their explorations of sexuality. In fact, there has never been a road more traveled.
Tonight's event is free and open to the entire Tufts community.
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Marissa Oberlander is a senior majoring in English. She is the treasurer of the Tufts Burlesque Troupe.
