the guide F R I DAY, O C T O B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 7
ILLUSTRATION BY ALYSSA VOLIVAR/THE HOYA
B2
THE HOYA
the the guide guide
friDAY, october friDAY, october13,6,2017 2017
ALYSSA ALFONSO FOR THE HOYA
Georgetown University’s stance on contraception and abortion aligns with its Catholic values, which some students and faculty members feel limits their ability to discuss issues related to sex and sexuality. For example, H*yas for Choice, a pro-abortion rights student group, is only permitted to table in designated free speech zones.
Toeing the Line: Free Speech and Sex on Campus
Lisa Burgoa Hoya Staff Writer
When professor Derek Goldman was directing “In The Next Room, or the vibrator play” last spring, he was acutely aware that, to some on campus, the production would appear salacious at first blush. The play deals frankly with female sexuality, exploring how the invention of the vibrator permitted women to experience sexual satisfaction in the otherwise stifling Victorian era. But Goldman, who serves as the founding director of The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, said the nudity and adult content of the play, far from being gratuitous, did not preclude it from rendering the human experience in an honest, sophisticated way. According to Goldman, such productions are integral to conversations about sex on campus, particularly at a Catholic university as devoted to care of the whole person as Georgetown. “There is an understanding about human sexuality, that it’s such a central
part of students’ lives and development, and that it is important for the campus to provide spaces for the expression of it and exploration of it, which is of course what theater does,” Goldman said. “But I am not naive. I know there are areas of campus where there are still battles to be waged and silencing that happens and prejudice that happens.” WORking with restrictions According to university spokeswoman Rachel Pugh, the university’s official stance gives faculty the latitude to discuss sex and sexuality freely, but imposes some restrictions on those acting on behalf of the university on matters where sexual expression and traditional Catholic doctrine clash. “Faculty and students are free to speak out on all issues and topics of interest to them,” Pugh wrote in a statement to The Hoya. “The university’s position on contraception and abortion are in alignment with Catholic views on these issues, and those acting on behalf of the institution are required to uphold the
university’s guidelines on these topics.” In some cases, these restrictions manifest themselves in rules governing acceptable speech by university employees. Residential hall office managers and residential assistants, for instance, are prohibited from displaying materials on their doors or openly advocating for contraception while acting in their roles. Women’s and gender studies program Director You-Me Park said that although she feels faculty members in her department are not directly constrained in their ability to discuss issues relating to sex and sexuality, the university’s institutional restrictions on contraception deal a blow to free speech on campus. “When it comes to free speech, I will have to say we have a lot of issues to tackle,” Park said. “The university needs to recognize prochoice groups on campus. We should be able to offer young women on this campus much better support and service in terms of their sexual health. These are issues that bigger than just our department and need to be addressed at an institutional level.” Another restriction involves selectively
withholding university recognition from groups that do not comply with Catholic doctrine. Without university recognition, groups cannot reserve spaces for meetings and events in areas such as the Copley Formal Lounge or the Healey Family Student Center Social Room without partnerships with recognized student groups. These organizations are further reliant on their own fundraising for speakers and events, as they are excluded from the Student Activities Commission budget. For most of H*yas for Choice’s 26-year history, the pro-abortion rights group has operated on the margins as an organization unrecognized by the university, acting as the only provider of contraception on campus. Though the organization is limited to tabling in selected zones in Red Square, the Leavey Center and the HFSC, H*yas for Choice Co-President Michaela Lewis (COL ’18) said the lack of recognition actually provides the organization with a degree of freedom to act in ways the university does not, as with its condom distribution system.
friday, october 13, 2017 “The big question we’re always asked is how do we feel that H*yas for Choice has to operate in sneaky ways to get around policies, where we table only in certain spaces, and raise our own funds, and kind of build ourselves from the bottom up because we have no institutional support,” Lewis said. “And, frankly, H*yas for Choice does very well with navigating that policy and having a presence on campus.” Nevertheless, H*yas for Choice CoPresident Annie Mason (COL ’18) said the university’s institutional barriers still provide challenges for the organization’s existence. For one, operating on the margin creates a situation in which the organization relies on the interests of students passionate about reproductive justice, as no institutional support exists to keep H*yas for Choice afloat. Mason said the university’s approach to speaker events concerning sexual behavior have also tended to be overly regimented. When the Lecture Fund hosted Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards in April 2016, the university dictated that seats be allotted to both H*yas for Choice and anti-abortion rights group GU Right to Life and that both organizations be given equal time at the microphone during the subsequent question-and-answer session. “It was really great that we were able to host that event, and in a lot of ways, in a lot of people’s minds, at a Catholic university, it was something that would not even be possible,” Mason said. “But also, the way that the event occurred, you’d never have in a discussion about climate change on campus the requirement that half the audience is reserved for people who don’t believe in climate change, and that half the Q&A is reserved for people who don’t believe in climate change.”
the guide Amelia Irvine (COL ’19), former president of GU Right to Life and current president of Love Saxa, an organization dedicated to promoting chastity and marriage between a man and a woman, said Georgetown’s Catholic values should inform the university’s free speech policies. “It’s within Georgetown’s rights to promote a Catholic understanding of human sexuality and the human person; some might even say that it’s Georgetown’s duty to do so,” Irvine wrote in an email to the Hoya. “It would be a colossal betrayal of Catholic values to recognize H*yas for Choice as a student group.” While Irvine believes that the administration has given both Love Saxa and GU Right to Life a space to freely express their ideas, she said both organizations encounter hostility from members of the student body who do not think the groups should be allowed to express their ideas. She cites the vandalism of a GU Right to Life chalk display that occurred last October, as well as a more recent attempt to scribble out chalk this year. “I’d like to add that [H*yas for Choice] may encounter administrative roadblocks, but their speech is welcomed by the Georgetown community, while [GU Right to Life’s] is not,” Irvine wrote. “There doesn’t seem to be a stigma associated with being a member of [H*yas for Choice,] but new students are sometimes intimidated to table for [GU Right to Life] because they don’t want to publicly ‘come out’ as being pro-life.” THE DEBATE OVER HATE SPEECH GU Pride President Chad Gasman (COL ’20) characterizes free speech as a doubleedged sword — one that permits students belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
THE HOYA
B3
ALYSSA ALFONSO FOR THE HOYA
transgender and queer communities to express themselves and celebrate their identities, while leaving them vulnerable to threats of violence and intimidation. Their own organization — GU Pride — has a storied history of university recognition, beginning with a nine-year legal battle to get GU Pride’s precursor, an organization called Gay People of Georgetown University, recognized and culminating in a 1987 ruling by the D.C. Court of Appeals dictating that Catholic universities must recognize queer groups. GU Pride has existed in some form with university recognition ever since.
ALYSSA ALFONSO FOR THE HOYA
Student group H*yas for Choice often tables in Red Square and hands out free contraceptives and lube to students. Although it has a passionate student base, the group often struggles with institutional barriers, as H*yas for Choice is not officially recognized by Georgetown.
Gasman said the university should not cling to a definition of free speech that includes organizations such as Love Saxa, which they categorize as a hate group that sponsors a homophobic agenda in its exclusion of same-sex couples from its definition of marriage. “Groups like Love Saxa, which I would characterize as a hate group, are allowed to put on events just like GU Pride does,” Gasman said. “In the student code of conduct it says very clearly that recognized groups must not foster an unwelcome or hateful environment, and the university should do its job in upholding these standards for groups like Love Saxa, which regardless of how on the surface they are nice to people like I am, their underlying mission statement is unwelcome and hateful.” Irvine dismissed allegations that Love Saxa is a hate group as ridiculous, stressing that her organization upholds the same definition of marriage as the Catholic Church. “I recognize that it is easier to point fingers and cry ‘hate group!’ instead of substantively thinking about issues and discussing pros and cons,” Irvine wrote. “This strategy is counterproductive and detrimental to free speech and expression on campus. The Catholic Church holds to the same definition of marriage as Love Saxa, and conforms to [GU Right to Life’s] beliefs on life issues. Should we banish the Catholic Chaplaincy for these reasons? That would be absurd.” But Gasman said that the expression of queer identity on campus is compatible with Georgetown’s religious tradition. “Catholics believe in things like justice and diversity and caring for the whole person, and I don’t think it goes against Catholic doctrine to be openly queer. I don’t think it goes against Catholic doctrine to support queer people on a campus like this,” Gasman said. “I’m not personally Catholic, but I am religious, and while some people espouse a religion that is homophobic, I think you can very much be faithful and be queer at the same time.”
B4
THE HOYA
the guide
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017
Contraception 101: Better Safe Than Sorry MEGAN SHAPIRO Hoya Staff Writer
Contraception: It is a word that invokes many different emotions. Some might feel uneasy, while others might feel empowered. Contraception is the use of artificial or behavioral methods to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. Contraception includes ingestives, like the birth control pill, devices, like male and female condoms, and behavioral methods, such as abstinence and the withdrawal method. There is evidence to suggest that sex education including information on both contraception and abstinence helps young people delay sex. According to “Emerging Evidence, Lessons and Practice in Comprehensive Sexuality Education: A Global Review,” a study by the United Nations Population Fund, “many of these programs have resulted in delayed sexual debut, reduced frequency of sex and number of sexual partners, increased condom or contraceptive use, or reduced sexual risk-taking.” Many young adults do not know what contraceptive options are o u t there. A study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute revealed that “only 55
percent of young men and 60 percent of young women had received formal instruction about methods of birth control.” Additionally, only 31 percent of males and 46 percent of females were informed of where to get birth control. Most college students are familiar with condoms, but not many of themknow the facts. Condoms are 85 percent effective and help protect you from sexually transmitted infections like herpes, chlamydia and human papillomavirus infection, among others. The birth control pill, when used exactly as prescribed, is 99 percent effective, but in practice, the pill is 91 percent effective due to missed pills and other complications. Additionally, the pill does not prevent from sexually transmitted infections. An intrauterine device, which is inserted into the uterus, is 99 percent effective but also does not prevent STI transmission. The birth control patch, birth control shot, birth control vaginal ring, cervical cap and diaphragm also help prevent pregnancy but fail to prevent STIs. Conversely, dental dams prevent STI transmission during oral sex but are not intended to be used to prevent pregnancy. The only 100 percent effective method of preventing STIs and pregnancy is abstinence. Furthermore, contraception can be used for certain purposes other than preventing pregnancy. For example, there are a number of reasons why one may choose to take birth control medication. The birth control pill is often used to lighten periods, reduce menstrual cramps and subdue premenstrual syndrome. According to Planned Parenthood, the combination pill may also reduce or help prevent acne, anemia, bone thinning, cysts in the breasts and ovaries, endometrial and ovarian cancers and serious infections in the reproductive system. But that is just scratching the surface o f intricacies surrounding contraception. Students seeking information may not be able to answer all of their questions on campus. The LGTBQ Resource Center, the Women’s Center and the Student Health Center are not permitted to refer students to organizations that offer abortion. Though physicians and nurse practitioners at the Student Health Center may prescribe birth control, they are not permitted to do so for the express purpose of preventing pregnancy. Georgetown University will also not contract, arrange or pay for contra-
Contraception is a word that can divide students. Student groups like H*yas for Choice promote access to contraception and provide condoms and dental dams to the student body. ceptive coverage. Divisions over contraception are clear on campus. H*yas for Choice and Georgetown University Right to Life, formerly known as Vita Saxa, table just feet away from each other in Red Square. While GU RTL does not have a formal stance on contraception, its overall take on reproductive rights contrasts with HFC’s progressive attitude. These two organizations, among others, represent a small microcosm of the student body at large. Amelia Irvine (COL ’19) and MyLan Metzger (COL ’19), president and vice president of Love Saxa, a campus organization dedicated to promoting chastity and marriage between a man and a woman, do not believe the university should fund contraceptives. “No one has the right to sex without consequences. Having sex in college is a
choice, a choice that Georgetown has no obligation to materially support or endorse,” Irvine and Metzger wrote in a joint email statement to THE HOYA. “It is our hope that Georgetown students would embrace a safer, healthier lifestyle of chastity, one in which birth control is not a necessity.” Considering the current sociopolitical atmosphere, it is pertinent than ever that we pay attention to the university’s policies on contraception, according to Michaela Lewis (COL ’18) and Annie Mason (COL ’18), co-presidents of pro-abortion rights group H*yas For Choice. “The most targeted communities are low-income and working class dependents whose parents/guardians do not have adequate insurance through their employers. Graduate students who are not dependents and do not receive private insurance through an employer are also particularly vulnerable to any changes the University may choose to make regarding birth control coverage,” Lewis and Mason wrote in an email statement to THE HOYA. Ultimately, it is most imperative that students be aware of different contraceptive options and be able to make educated decisions about what option is right for them. ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY SHAMBAUGH/THE HOYA
illustration by angela perez/the hoya
B6
THE HOYA
the guide
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017
The Truth Behind Sexually Transmitted Infections ALEXANDRA BRUNJES, ELEANOR TOLF AND EMROSE KATHAWALA Hoya Staff Writers and Special to The Hoya
The Georgetown University community is quite vigilant about staying fit and healthy. Walking between classes, it is not unusual to see people in gym clothes or overhear discussions about the ways they try to eat healthily. Although cura personalis, or care of the whole person, extends to these physical aspects of the Hoya lifestyle, there is one crucial aspect of health that seems to be left out of the conversation: sexual health. Just like getting regular check-ups at the doctor’s, it is important to get regular sexually transmitted infection screenings, especially after any change in sexual activity. Several resources at Georgetown, like the Student Health Center, Health Education Services and H*yas for Choice, help ensure that STI testing is easily accessible. THE TRUTH BEHIND STIS STIs can be spread through contact with infected body fluids, including semen, vaginal fluids and blood. STIs can also be transmitted through contact with infected skin or mucous membranes, including sores in the mouth. STIs are not always visible, and many do not have symptoms. Further, STI symptoms can appear months or even years after the infection is first contracted through
sexual activity. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure whether you have an STI. The best method to help prevent the spread of STIs is to use a condom. It is also a misconception that engaging in oral and anal sex does not pose a risk for the transmission of STIs. Many STIs can be transmitted through oral sex, including herpes, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and syphilis. During anal sex, these risks are even higher; small tears in the skin makes it easy for STIs to pass from one person to another. But the biggest myth of all is that only people with many sexual partners get STIs. The truth is, anyone can get an STI, even people with just one partner if that partner has an STI. It is imperative to get tested if you have been or are sexually active. GETTING TESTED The Student Health Center provides a full array of testing and treatment options for STIs. The cost of a screening depends on your healthcare plan. Every Georgetown student is required to have health insurance, which can help partially cover these tests. With the United Student Health Care Premier Plan, there is a $10 copay, but a quick call to your specific insurer will tell you what cost to expect. The Student Health Center recommends the Whitman Walker Clinic, on 14th St NW, or Planned Parenthood, on 4th St SE, as lower cost options for those who do not have insurance. The Student Health Center will be hosting a free STI testing event on campus Nov. 14. WHAT TO EXPECT You can make an appointment at the Health Center to get tested or to talk with a health professional about whether or not getting screened makes sense for you. The infections that are typically screened for are syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. The test itself usually involves only blood and urine analysis, but sometimes more extensive testing is recommended after discussion with a physician. One of the most common reasons students are unwilling to get tested is out of fear of social and familial repercussions. Although conversations between patients and physicians are strictly confidential, insurance companies itemize their bills differently and an “explanation of benefits” letter sent to the insurance holder may detail the tests performed. If you are insured under the student health care plan, the bills and statements will come directly to you and not your parents, unless your home address is indicated. If you are concerned about your family finding out about testing, you can call your insurer and ask about their policy.
ALI ENRIGHT FOR THE HOYA, THEO SYMONDS FOR THE HOYA
The Student Health Center provide a full array of testing and treatment options for sexually transmitted infections. The cost of a screening varies depending on your health care plan, but you can contact your specific insurer with any questions.
For more information about H*yas for Choice and student health services, visit hyasforchoice.com.
Advice From the Experts Carol Day, director of Health Education Services, and Vince WinklerPrins, assistant vice president for Student Health, discuss the importance of getting tested and the different obstacles students often feel like they face. Why are STI screenings important in a college setting? Day: Statistically, it’s a vulnerable population. The Center for Disease Control has shown that it’s one of the highest age groups at risk of being exposed, whether that’s a biological or physiological vulnerability, whether that’s partly due to lack of relationships … I think you should recognize there’s some sort of vulnerability and that it’s a fact of life for this age group. I think of it as a good practice in a relationship to find out if there is anything that could put your partner at risk. What resources can Hoyas refer to after receiving the results of the testing? Day: If you’re going for testing, you’re going to be having that conversation with the practitioner. If you get a positive result on something, they’ll explain what that means. They’ll debrief on who that person can talk to — counseling office, my office — whoever they feel comfortable with, as long as that person knows what they’re talking about. Joan Riley [associate professor in the department of human science] is an example of a nurse practitioner who is willing to talk to students about these things. What would you say to someone afraid of getting tested? WinklerPrins: Regarding someone afraid to get tested, I would ask what the nature of the fear is about. Is it to acknowledge in front of someone else that you are sexually active? The fear of possibly being judged or dismissed by the doctor or nurse practitioner? Is it that you don’t like needles? Or is the fear that you imagine the worst, that you have something bad, and would just as soon not know ... While each of these is a fear, I want to respond to two of these. First is that doctors see many things and we are not in the business of judging. We want to serve students as thoughtfully as we can. Regarding the last one, this is something that I would want to be sure to encourage someone not to do. If you make this very difficult choice to be sexually active, then with that choice I think comes the responsibility of being responsible for yourself and others by knowing your risk and getting tested periodically.
From the
Student Perspective
The Hoya sat down with H*yas for Choice Executive Board Member Talia Parker (COL ’20), who is the director of tabling and contraception, to discuss the information she hopes to share with the Georgetown community. Parker has extensive experience with the reproductive justice movement and has worked with Planned Parenthood, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and the Feminist Majority Foundation. H*yas for Choice is a student-run reproductive justice group that is pro-abortion rights. Its mission is to educate the community and enable students to make informed choices about their sexual health. “Along with the multitude of resources that students can access on [the website], H*yas for Choice also does a lot of work with the Student Health Center to link students to sexual health resources there.” Parker said. “Thanks to the hard work of H*yas for Choice, last year the Student Health Center began offering free and confidential HIV screenings once a semester.” In part due to the work done by H*yas for Choice, the student health center is also beginning to offer the Mirena IUD for noncontraceptive purposes. The health center provides STI testing but declines to provide contraceptive services, as this would conflict with the university’s Catholic values. The health center does not prescribe nor fulfill prescriptions for oral contraceptives, and the university does not contract, arrange, pay or refer students to pregnancy prevention. “While it is disappointing that a student organization has to step in to fill such a vital void in student health care services, H*yas for Choice understands the need for these services on campus and is happy to provide what the university will not.” Parker said. For more information about H*yas for Choice and student health services, visit hyasforchoice.com.
illustration by alyssa volivar/THE HOYA
B8
THE HOYA
the guide
friDAY, October 13, 2017
ALYSSA ALFONSO FOR THE HOYA
Sex is a common subject of conversation across college campuses in the country, but many misconceptions regarding sexual activity exist. Some students at Georgetown may be unaware of the contraceptive options available to them, but by visiting the Student Health Center or stopping by a H*yas for Choice table in Red Square, they can learn more about their options.
Debunking Common College Sex Myths
William Leo and Juliette Silvain Hoya Staff Writer and Special to The Hoya
Sex is among the most talked-about subjects on college campuses. Yet myths and misconceptions pervade almost every discussion of sexual activity and sexuality, subtly infiltrating the beliefs of even the bestinformed people. Sexually inexperienced young people are likely to become confused by the dizzying array of information and opinions that assails them in conversations about sex. Only by evaluating common sexual myths and the harmful effects they can have are we able to move past ignorance into a healthier understanding of our bodies and ourselves. Myth 1: The withdrawal method is safe. The withdrawal method, which is when the man pulls his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation, is among the most dangerous and least effective birth control techniques. According to Planned Parenthood, this method is 78 percent effective. Pre-ejaculatory fluid can sometimes contain sperm, which puts the female partner at risk of pregnancy. In addition, physical contact and the exchange of fluids can put both partners at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Just because the man has not ejaculated does not mean that the sex is safe. Moreover, this technique requires very good timing and self-control to be successful. “It’s just not very reliable to rely on that in the heat of the moment,” said Talia Parker (COL ’20), director of tabling for H*yas for Choice. “If the man accidentally ejaculates
before pulling out, the woman will be at an even greater risk of pregnancy, have to deal with a sticky cleanup and sex will end without satisfaction. Plan B, emergency birth control, costs more than $50, too. Getting a condom might seem inconvenient or less fun, but it’s worth it to prevent the consequences possible with the pull-out method.” Myth 2: Men just want sex all the time. One of the most pernicious sex myths is the notion that men only think about sex all the time. This myth would have us believe that the primary motive behind male behavior is lust. But men have many motivations and drives apart from their sexuality. Relationships between men and women do not always have to be about sex, nor should we callously assume that a man’s actions are motivated by the desire to have sex. The next time we attribute a man’s actions to his desire for sex, we should take a step back and evaluate why we believe that. More often than not, we will find that we have been making gendered assumptions. Moreover, if a person who identifies as a man does want consensual sex, we should accept this and not try to shame him. Furthermore, we must remember that not all students in college are having sex. Some students may be choosing to abstain for personal or religious reasons, and others, including asexual students, may not be interested. “Just having a positive attitude about sex is important and not judging other people for their choices as well,” Parker said. Myth 3: The only way to experience pleasure
is through penetration. In most of our imaginations, sex means one thing: intercourse between a man and a woman with vaginal penetration. But this image is deeply flawed. It neither incorporates the experiences of gay, queer or intersex people nor accurately conveys the whole array of sexual possibilities available to people regardless of preference or gender.
“
Getting a condom might seem inconvenient or less fun, but it’s worth it to prevent the consequences possible with the pull-out method.” TALIA PARKER (COL ’20) Director of Tabling, H*yas for Choice
“The arousal period for a woman is almost twice than [that of] a man,” Lovely Olivier (COL ’18), executive co-chair for United Feminists, a student group dedicated to combating influences of sexism and heteronormativity, said. “Oral sex, erotic massage, hand jobs, mutual masturbation, petting and tribbing, to name a few,
are all non-penetrative options for you and your partner to consider. Furthermore, non-penetrative foreplay can increase satisfaction in intimacy altogether. Talk with your partner, share what you want and be open to new experiences.” Myth 4: Protection doesn’t exist on a Jesuit campus. Throughout the week, H*yas For Choice tables in the middle of Red Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving out lube, latex condoms, internal condoms and dental dams for free. For some, long-term birth control, like the pill, may be a better solution. Although intrauterine devices do not prevent STI transmission, the Student Health Center hopes to start giving the devices out next month. Myth 5: Women do not masturbate. The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior published by the Indiana University School of Public Health found that 24.5 percent of women aged 18 to 24 said they masturbated a few times per month to weekly, compared to 25 percent of men in this range who masturbate a few times per month to weekly. Masturbation can help people achieve pleasure and help individuals in relationships by “finding what is best for you,” Parker said. Trying sex toys can also allow women to embrace their sexuality and experience their first orgasms, explains Adama Jobtaeh (SFS ’19), secretary of United Feminists. “Find what you love in bed.”
friday, oCTOBER 13, 2017
the guide
THE HOYA
B9
Students May Not Be Hooked On Hookup Culture Kathryn Baker and Max Crispin Hoya Staff Writer and Special to The Hoya
The start of college is an exhilarating time. Students enter their freshman year expecting to be challenged academically, to establish meaningful friendships and to develop the skills necessary for the “real world.” Despite these serious expectations, there is one facet of college that often seems to occupy a large role in students’ lives: hookup culture. While the definition of a hookup is vague — ranging in meaning from kissing to sexual intercourse — it seems that the culture of hooking up is embedded in campuses everywhere. Research from Georgetown alumna Donna Freitas (COL ’94), a research affiliate at the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, reaffirms the prevalence of hookup culture in her book “Sex and the Soul.” In Freitas’ online survey of 1,230 undergraduates, 80 percent of students at Catholic universities and 78 percent of students at nonreligious private and public universities described their peers as either being “casual” or “too casual” about sex. Among all undergraduates surveyed in the study, not a single student said that they felt their peers valued saving sex for marriage, and only 7 percent said that their friends valued saving sex for committed, loving relationships.
“
There’s a lot of consternation about the students’ sexual activity. But it turns out that they are no more sexually active by most measures than their parents were at their age.”
LISA WADE Associate Professor, Occidental College
This perception of a casual undergraduate approach to sex appears to be supported by research from the American College Health Association. An aggregate of results from the ACHA’s National College Health Assessment from 2004 to 2017 shows that 40.3 percent of surveyed Georgetown undergraduates had sex within 30 days before taking the survey. But this statistic fails to tell the whole story, according to Carol Day, director of Georgetown’s Health Education Services. Students from the same survey also reported having an average of only one sexual partner per year. “I think there’s a lot in the culture in general that leads people to the perception that college is a hookup place,” Day
said. “When you look at our data in terms of numbers of students and numbers of partners, it does not necessarily support that.” Lisa Wade, an associate professor of sociology at Occidental College, spent five years researching hookup culture on various college campuses. In doing so, she discovered that most graduating seniors reported having had only one hookup per semester, half of which were with previous hookup partners. “There’s a lot of consternation about the students’ sexual activity,” Wade said in an NPR interview. “But it turns out that they are no more sexually active by most measures than their parents were at their age.” Students may not be hooking up more than previous generations did, but it seems that they are viewing their actions differently. A key component of current hookup culture is emotional detachment: the idea that romantic feelings are to be completely removed from sexual intimacy. Rather than fulfill a need for sexual satisfaction, hookups have begun to serve a more social role and occupy an important place in the college party scene. “There always has been hooking up. Hooking up has always been an option, but now it’s considered sort of the right way to do college,” Wade said in an interview with The Hoya. Hookups have asserted dominance on college campuses, but some studies suggest that many students wish this were not the case. Freitas found that in a group of 589 students, 41 percent appeared profoundly upset when describing how hookups make them feel. Additionally, 23 percent of surveyed students expressed ambivalence while 36 percent described feeling “fine” about hookups. “It can feel pretty callous and hard and cold,” Wade said. “And so, a lot of times, students feel like it’s really emotionally difficult.” Here at Georgetown, student reactions to hookup culture vary. A new student group, Love Saxa, has emerged in recent years to combat hookup culture and promote chastity and marriage between man and woman. Amelia Irvine (COL ’19) and MyLan Metzger (COL ’19), president and vice president of Love Saxa, respectively, expressed frustration at the rise of hookup culture on campus. “The hookup culture transforms people into objects because a human being becomes a means toward an end,” Irvine and Metzger wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We strip out the humanity of fellow Georgetown students, seeing them only for their sexuality. Because of this, the hookup culture damages all students, not just those who engage in it.” Michaela Lewis (COL ’18) and Annie Mason (COL ’18), co-presidents of H*yas for Choice, disagree and feel that there are too many negative stigmas associated with hookup culture. “Negative discourse around ‘hookup
STEPHANIE YUAN/THE HOYA
It may seem that hookup culture has a dominant presence on college campuses. However, research suggests that this may not be the case. culture’ precludes the possibility of healthy, liberating, non-monogamous expressions of sexuality by privileging longterm, romantic relationships,” the two wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We hold that this sexual hierarchy is rooted in rigid heteronormativity and in the institutions historically responsible for the social and sexual repression of gender and sexual minorities.” As far as the administration is concerned, Georgetown faculty want to encourage students to consider their values and make sure that they feel comfortable with their sexual decisions, whether it be before, during or after a hookup takes place. “We encourage students to reflect on what is best for them when they make decisions about sexual activity with a partner,” Laura Kovach, director of the Women’s Center, said. “We hope that students take their sexual health and well-
ness seriously. We also want students to feel safe and that consent is given and received every single time, no matter the sexual activity.” But, ultimately, it is important to remember that although hookup culture is available to students who are interested in participating, it does not have to be the norm. “The advice I would give to an individual is: If hookup culture is unsatisfying or unappealing, then you need to start actually telling the people you like what you want from them,” Wade said. As for the future of hookup culture, Wade does not see it changing anytime soon, especially because it has now started to extend beyond college campuses and emerge in society at large. “No sexual culture is permanent,” Wade said. “But if anything, I think it’s been growing in power over the past 20 years on college campuses.”
friday, october 13, 2017
the guide
THE HOYA
B10
ANNE STONECIPHER FOR THE HOYA
Students come to Georgetown having had varied experiences with sex education in high school, ranging from comprehensive programs and abstinence-only programs to no education at all. According to sociology professor Kathleen Guidroz, abstinence-only and noncomprehensive education have not evolved to meet the sexual behaviors of college-aged students today.
Sex Education and the Transition to College
Mac Dressman and Julia Yaeger Hoya Staff Writer and Special to The Hoya
Every Hoya has had a different experience with sex education in high school. Ranging from comprehensive high school programs to no sex education at all, these different forms of sex education have shaped students’ opinions on sex and sexuality. From abstinence-only advocates to proabortion rights supporters, Hoyas are constantly voicing their opinions and learning from one another. According to professor Kathleen Guidroz, who teaches “Sociology of Sexuality,” abstinence-only and non-comprehensive education have not evolved to fit the sexual behaviors of today’s collegeage students. “Abstinence-only education might be cheaper, but it isn’t as effective as comprehensive sex education, and it isn’t what teens ask for. Students want information on starting, maintaining and ending relationships. They want information on emotions,” Guidroz said. She also said that sex education should adapt to meet the needs of the 21st century student. “Sex education needs to be more than pregnancy prevention. It should include resources and information on all aspects, even the nonphysical aspects, of relationships. Sex education should evolve as students do to fit the lifestyles of modern college students,” Guidroz said. Guidroz also challenged norms pertaining to sex.
“Losing one’s virginity no longer fits the variety of sexual behaviors people engage in, nor does it fit for people with the same gender identity or expression,” Guidoz said. The federal standards for sex education cause many of these problems. The definition of what sex entails is not standardized across states. Additionally, 37 states require that information on abstinence be provided to students, while 19 require instruction on the importance of engaging in sexual activity only within marriage. “[Being] Abstinence-only until marriage isn’t realistic in terms of sexual behavior in the U.S. The average age of first-time sexual behavior is 17. A majority of states require HIV education, but only 13 states require medically accurate sex information,” Guidroz said. Some high schools have already met this need for comprehensive sex education. Jamie Hood (SFS ’21) had a weekly coeducational human development course during his freshman year of high school in Calabasas, Calif. The course spanned an extensive curriculum, including units on drugs, tolerance, sex education, STIs and contraception such as intrauterine devices, condoms, dental dams, male and female condoms and vaginal rings. At Hood’s high school, all human development teachers were confidential resources, and teachers from the science department facilitated discussions about sex and helped answer any questions that the students had. According to Hood, there was an open
approach to discussing sex, contraception and even abortion, which is sometimes a taboo subject in sex education courses. Thanks to these open classroom discussions, Hood now feels comfortable discussing sex in a college environment. “I feel confident in what I know about sex,” Hood said.
“
Sex education needs to be more than pregnancy prevention. It should include resources and information on all aspects, even the nonphysical aspects, of relationships.” KATHLEEN GUIDROZ Professor, Sociology Department
Until attending Georgetown, Hood was not aware that not all other high schools teach sex education in such an open and intense manner. “I thought that was just what sex education was,” Hood said. He described the sex education culture at Georgetown as regressive in reference to the lack of visibility for H*yas for Choice and other support groups, but he said that he feels
confident that if he needed to find a sex education resource, he would be able to do so. Students who are raised or educated in religious environments are often taught in a more conservative manner, with an emphasis on abstinence. But, despite criticisms of abstinence-only education, some students who receive this style of education feel that it stimulates healthy relationships. “I can definitely say that my relationships have been more meaningful. Sometimes I feel like relationships can become sort of sex-centered rather than love-centered. … So in my experience, it has prepared me for college,” said Mike Rushka (COL ’20), who attended high school in Indianapolis. “I didn’t feel any pressure or anything.” No matter their sex education before college, all Hoyas have access to on-campus resources for sexual health. Health Education Services is free and provides pregnancy tests, university support during and after pregnancy and other forms of counseling. The Student Health Center offers screening, evaluation and treatment for STIs, along with wellness visits for sexual and reproductive health, like annual exams and gynecological care. The Women’s Center and LGBTQ Center offer free support, and students can get involved with sex education groups such as H*yas for Choice and GU Right to Life. Ultimately, regardless of where you stand on issues pertaining to sex education, there is a place on campus for you.
friday, october 13, 2017
the guide
THE HOYA
B11
What does sex positivity mean to you?
ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY GUIDE STAFF
health Resources Student Health Center 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Ground Floor, Darnall Hall (202) 687-2200 Women’s Center Leavey Center 327 (202) 687-6359, womenscenter@georgetown.edu LGBTQ Resource Center Leavey Center 325 (202) 687-3546, lgbtq@georgetown.edu Health Education Services Carol Day, Director, daycr@georgetown.edu 1437 37th St. NW, Poulton Hall Suite 101 (202) 687-8942 U.S. Department of Health Sexual Health Education Services 899 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 442-5955, doh@dc.gov The Young Women’s Project Jinnesse Taylor, Reproductive Justice Coordinator, jinnesse.taylor@youngwomensproject.org 3938 Benning Road NE, Washington, D.C. 20019 (202) 332-3399 Title IX Laura Cutway, Title IX Coordinator Darnall Hall, Suite M-36 (202) 687-4798, titleixideaa@georgetown.edu Counseling and Psychiatric Services Darnall Hall Business hours: (202) 687-6985 Emergencies: (202) 444-PAGE (7243)* *Ask to speak to a clinician on call
Illustration by alyssa volivar/the hoya