By Andrea Smith

As children, many students were forced into having the inevitable “sex talk” with their parents. Red-faced and uncomfortable, they listened to their parents explain the mechanics of having sex. Fortunately, for those who had to suffer, Northeastern University offered students the opportunity to talk openly about sex in a relaxed environment among their peers.

The Resident Student Association (RSA) organized “Sex Week 2004,” a week devoted to the discussion of sex. This year, Sex Week ran from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30, and students were able to attend different seminars; with topics ranging from safe sex to date rape to an uninhibited question and answer session.

On Friday, Jan. 30, the week concluded with the seminar “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex … But Were too Afraid to Ask.” This seminar allowed students to ask whatever they wanted about sex, no matter how vulgar.

On the dimly-lit stage at afterHOURS, the MC and Vice President of Programming for RSA Margaret Horton, sat surrounded by eight students: to her left was a group of men, and to her right, a group of women.

Students in the audience were told to write any questions they had on a slip of paper and place it in a bucket. Horton would read out the questions to the panel, which was made up 10 students and two mediators. Some members of RSA along with other students answered, sharing the males’ point of view as well as the females.

The anonymity of the questions allowed students to be as open as they wanted to be. Discussion topics ranged from talking dirty, sexual positions, the use of food products, masturbation, threesomes and embarrassing sexual experiences, to name a few.

One of the panelists on the testosterone-charged side compared having a threesome to being at an ice cream shop, pointing out that if a guy had to choose between one scoop of ice cream or two, they would always go for two.

Another male panelist graphically described what he liked to say to his partner while they were having sex. The panelists debated the worst things the opposite sex could do during sex. The females agreed that “going about it like a machine” and “baby talk” would certainly ruin it. A panelist on the male side cited the use of “teeth in an inappropriate manner” as one of the worst things a girl could do.

The topic switched to masturbation and all of the panelists on the girls side admitted to doing it, some more than others. One panelist mentioned “The Rabbit,” (a popular vibrator,) featured on an episode of “Sex in the City” commenting that “it’s pretty!”

One student in the audience asked what girls think a guy’s ultimate fantasy would be and vice versa. The females came to a consensus that receiving oral sex while watching baseball would be a guy’s fantasy. The guys agreed that “dinner, a moonlit walk on the beach, going in a hot tub on a roof, receiving oral sex for an hour, getting a full body massage, having sex, then going to bed” would satisfy a girl.

The audience members were often encouraged to give comments and ask questions on the discussion topics. Contests were held for the audience members, one of which asked students to share their most embarrassing moment. Many students seemed comfortable sharing their opinions and experiences.

“I’m comfortable talking openly,” said Jen Jeraci, a freshman undecided major. “I think it’s important to talk about sex.”

This program had more than just shock value for students. Kerby Lewis, a freshman nursing major said programs like these are important, as long as they educate and promote safe sex.

For others, specifically Horton, this experience was not out of the norm. Since she’s had a lot of experience with these types of programs, she is rarely embarrassed by any of the questions students ask, nor is she surprised by anything the students on the panel say.

Horton said it is important for students to be able to talk openly about sex and know they are not alone.

“All of the programs in Sex Week had a different purpose,” Horton said “We discussed topics like safe sex and date rape.”

Friday night’s program was “more about having fun,” Horton said. As long as the programs continue to promote safe sex and not encourage promiscuity, Horton thinks it would be beneficial for all colleges to participate.

Overall, Sex Week was successful. There were at least 50 people at both Monday night’s session and Tuesday night’s session and “at least 300 people, maybe more, attended Condom Casino” on Wednesday night, said Darren Conine, the assistant national communications coordinator for RSA.