Doin' The Deed

It's common "knowledge" that people (read: stereotypical adolescent boys) think about sex - a lot. And next week, instead of eye rolls of revolt, a group of women at Northwestern wants to turn thoughts about sex into action by creating a positive, safe, educational and exciting week-long discussion about it.

Sex Week 2007, sponsored by College Feminists, kicks off April 9 with a sexual health fair featuring groups from campus and the Chicago area. The rest of the week is chalked full of events aimed at getting students talking about sexuality, sexual health and the untapped resources Northwestern offers. "When it comes to sex, ignorance is far from bliss," according to the Sex Week Facebook group.

The week sex-tensive has been long in the works, and Weinberg sophomore and Sex Week founder Stella Fayman wants to involve everyone on campus. "A college campus is supposed to be vibrant place to talk about sex," she says. "We're on our own making decisions for the first time, and sex plays a role in everyone's lives."

Fayman says not enough students are aware of services at Searle or the Women's Center on campus. They aren't openly discussing and questioning important issues like sexuality and obscenity - Sex Week aims to change that.

But Sex Week is not your average middle school sex ed lecture: no awkward bananas. Sex Week is supposed to be exciting and interactive (like good sex) - not dry and technical (like bad sex). "Somebody had to start (the discussion), and we did - in a fun way," says Fayman. "Sex is fun and so is talking about it."

Fayman has been envisioning how the first NU Sex Week will materialize for over a year, and there have been pleasant surprises along the way. She cold called the producer of the award-winning play Kama Sutra The Musical: The Second Coming, and he agreed to bring the cast to campus to perform the show's songs Friday, April 13 at 9pm. And the normal $40 ticket is knocked down to $5. Producer Terry Abrahamson will also host a Q&A.

Corporate sponsor Pure Romance is hosting a Pleasure Party (think Tupperware party, sex toys are for sale) as part of Ladies Night at Tommy Nevin's Pub (1450 Sherman Ave.) April 12. The company's founder and CEO (and "sexpert") Patty Brisben, is flying in for the occasion. She must be hot stuff - she's dished about dildos at similar parties for stars like Jessica Simpson and Kim Cattrall.

Northwestern professors were also invited to join Sex Week's calendar. Anthropology professor Mary Weismantel, psychology professor Eli Finkel and history professor Lane Fenrich will each present during the week.

The idea for bringing Sex Week to Northwestern comes from Yale University, which holds the event each year. Trojan claims Yale is now one of the most sexually educated campus in the nation. Fayman hopes NU's week of festivities will be as successful and reach every student. "We want to really rock the campus," she says.

To find out more, join the Sex Week 2007 group on Facebook.

Medill junior Deena Bustillo is the PLAY editor. She can be reached at d-bustillo@northwestern.edu.