Sexy Columns
Times are changing. What is acceptable conversation today would have been appalling to earlier generations, and yet the envelope is continually getting pushed further and further. Perhaps one of the most controversial topics being discussed right now is the issue of sex columns on campus newspapers.
These aren’t your average “Sex in the City” Carrie Bradshaw columns about dating and relationship advice. College students are taking the sex column to an entirely new level. Nothing is too graphic, offensive or vulgar when it comes to campus sex columns: birth control, condoms, vibrators, oral sex, bondage, masturbation, bedroom noises, orgasms – there is no limit to the topics about which students will write.
What started in 1996 with the column “Sex on Tuesday” at the University of California, Berkeley, has since erupted into a phenomenon with, naturally, very mixed responses.
For some, the idea of the sex column is liberating, and symbolizes a new openness in today’s younger generation with diverse types of sexuality and an open forum to talk about sex issues on the college campus. Sophomore Business major Gabriel Tejada sees no problem with sex columns on campuses. He said, “I think it would be something interesting to read. Who isn’t interested in sex, especially at our age?” He added, “I would be more inclined to read the paper [if there were a sex column].”
For many others, however, the university sex column represents a new vulgarity that surpasses all others. They see the column as morally degrading or just plain immature.
Others find the idea of a sex column to be just plain funny. Junior Biochemistry major, Monet Anderson said that she found The Keystone’s sex column in the past to be fun, although she said, “I had to hide the paper from my mom.” Leara Angello, a junior Professional Writing major, said that the articles can be informative and provide some students with information that they wouldn’t usually talk about with their friends or family.
Regardless of what people may think of sex columns and their reflection of society, one thing is certain: Sex sells, and university papers know this. And let’s be honest: People in college are having sex and if they’re not having sex, they’re talking about sex, and if they’re not talking about it, well, they’re thinking about it. Isn’t it only fair that the university paper reflect this interest of its readers by divulging them? Whatever the case, sex and sex columns seem to be a staple of campus papers that will stick around for a while.
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