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Published: May 22, 2007

Is there a certain preoccupation emerging here?

“Sex Carnival” at UC Davis

Revised June 13, 2007 – attribution not included in original story added for certain quotes and paraphrases at the request of the California Aggie.

"Students looking for a good time should stop by the Quad, where Sex Fest '07 will be pleasuring participants with all kinds of sexual carnival games," said Richard Procter, writing in the University of California-Davis newspaper, California Aggie.

Activities at the May 22 event are to include condom relay races, a condom balloon toss, condom jewelry, the opportunity for photographs with Captain Condom, and an event to see who can put a condom on a wooden penis model the fastest, the Aggie reported.

"Condom jewelry is really fun,” Sexual Health Program coordinator Arielle Fleischer told the Aggie. Students will be provided with unlubricated condoms, "so your hands don't get all gross!” Students will be provided with craft materials, including sequins and glitter, with which to fashion condom earrings, bracelets, and other kitsch.

The idea isn’t being packaged as sexual infantilization -- despite the Kiddie Adventure Day Camp ambiance -- but as an initiative to promote “safe sex.” Fleischer shared with the Aggie her hope that "all the games in which students interact with condoms make them more comfortable with them; we'd like to decrease the stigma associated with condoms."

Among the information UC Davis students are virtually guaranteed not to receive are the findings of Dr. Miriam Grossman, a psychiatrist at UCLA Student Psychological Services. Her professional work has convinced her that the casual sexual "hook up" culture on campus is leading to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and a crippling of the ability to love, trust, or translate sexual energy into a lasting personal commitment.

"Women students especially are suffering emotional disorientation as a result of using, or being used by others in shallow relationships. This is damaging to students' self-respect, even if the sexual 'using' is agreed-upon and mutual," Grossman explained in a recent talk show on Chicago’s WGN Radio. Despite all the “fun,” she says, "we are losing the war on depression on campus.”

Although the Aggie’s 24-page Student Organization Source Book censures “lewd conduct,” “morally degrading or humiliating games,” or compelling someone to participate in “any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, contrary to the individual’s moral and/or religious beliefs,” enticing, encouraging or promoting such activities, it appears, is not only tolerated, but enthusiastically sponsored.

In her book Unprotected -- initially published anonymously because of ?fear that any criticism of student sexual behavior would damage her professionally -- Grossman highlighted the widespread incidence of serious physical and psychological injury stemming from trifling sexual liaisons.

Sex Fest '07, part of Generation Sex Week, is being sponsored by Health Education and Promotion; ASUCD Gender and Sexuality Commission; the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center; Men Acting Against Rape; and the Women’s Resources and Research Center.

© California Catholic Daily 2007. All Rights Reserved.