Northwestern class- demo of an adult act...(adult content)

[mom2binsd]

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_02495f12-45b2-11e0-ae4f-001cc4c03286.html

A guest lecturer in a Human Sexuality class at Northwestern had two people who were brought by the speaker, perform a live demonstration using a sex toy after the lecture, students were warned about explicit nature, it was voluntary (I can't imagine many left).

Yes, many of them have probably seen much worse on the internet/movies/at parties but to think that this is something to take place in a campus auditorium?

I'm thinking it was so strange that the guest lecturer seemed to bring these two along to be live demonstrators, unless of course they just happened to be students in the class and happened to have a sex toy in the backpack!

In this day and age there has to cell phone video of this.....will be interesting to see what Northwestern does.

[boilermakermom]

I am also curious to see what repercussions Northwestern will implement, if any. The article I read stated the two guest speakers had been part of the class syllabus for a few semesters, and the live demonstration was not planned, more of a 'let's show you what this does after class'.

[mom2binsd]

Here's an interview with the guy who held the post lecture demonstration, and it shows the item used...never seen that before...:eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ided2Z_r-a8

[Globetrotter]

That looks a little intimidating! :dizzy:

[TwinFoxes]

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_02495f12-45b2-11e0-ae4f-001cc4c03286.html

A guest lecturer in a Human Sexuality clas at Northwestern had two students perform a live demonstration using a sex toy after the lecture, students were warned about explicit nature, it was voluntary (I can't imagine many left).



Well, the two people who performed the sex act weren't students. (that seems like an automatic "A" if they were!") I read the Chicago Tribune article, not the one linked to in the OP. According to the Trib, there was a lecture, they were there to talk about sex toys. And after the lecture they offered to give a demonstration for anyone interested. Some people left, some stayed.

I'm not saying "no big deal!" but it wasn't like students showed up and it was sprung on them. The lecture was over when the demo occurred.

[AngelaS]

Wow..... That's just wrong on many levels.

[weech]

Am I the only one amused by this? It was completely voluntary... and the thing is called a sex saw! :ROTFLMAO:

[maestramommy]

Hmmmm, I seem to recall back in the day the Human Sexuality course getting some notoriety for something else. What was it? Maybe a clip from a porn video? it was something eye popping for the early 90s:tongue5:

Can't view the video, but I doubt there will be any repercussions.

[Melaine]

Yuck. That's just wrong and weird and YUCK.

ETA: Just my impression by clicking on none of the links.

[fortato]

Nothing like that ever happened at the lectures I had to attend.


It was a voluntary thing.... no one HAD to be there...so- they have to let it go.

[kdeunc]

That looks a little intimidating! :dizzy:

Holy Moly, I agree!

[trales]

My mother used to teach that course at another university, even published a text on the subject, I shared this with her.

She laughed and said good for them, she might not have done it, but that was in a different time and different place.

I think it is great. As a college professor, I find myself constantly adding disclaimers, thinking about everything that comes out of my mouth and worrying a lot. I hope this moves us forward a bit.

[ohsara430]

I see nothing wrong with this. It was an optional lecture students could choose to attend. They were warned multiple times of the subject matter and graphic nature of what would be discussed and shown. I remember taking Human Sexuality in college and we were shown video of all kinds of crazy stuff including female ejaculation and various sex toys. The class is called human sexuality - you don't sit around discussing the weather.

[Kitten007]

I'm not saying "no big deal!" but it wasn't like students showed up and it was sprung on them. The lecture was over when the demo occurred.

I agree. It is a big deal and it isn't. They are all college students and no matter what all adults. If a parent of a student is upset (if it was me as the parent), I would unfortunately let my boys be because I have to let them make their own choices as adults. At least they watched a live demo not drinking and doing drugs.

Glad they at least told everyone the lecture was over and it was up to them to stay for the demo. If they would have just started the demo with no warning then shame, shame.

[dec756]

i agree to let it go. if they were warned and choose to stay (which is my understanding) its the students fault and they cannot blame anyone for what they saw. yes, a bad judgement call. BUT no harm done without permission

[gatorsmom]

Wow, what will universities be showing in 10 years? "Stay after class and we'll demonstrate to you different orgy set ups where all partners climax." Or how about, "Stay after class and we'll show you the proper way to perform Erotic Asphyxiation to make sure your partner isn't killed."

Seriously, how is watching something like this an important teaching tool? Who needs to know this stuff? And did the teacher of the class HONESTLY think that this was suppose to be educational "not titillating" to a roomful of college kids? "no honestly, I'm not trying to get you off. Watching a naked woman being pounded by a jackhammer dildo is an important part of your sex education." :rolleye0014: Next thing you know, they'll be calling up volunteers from the audience to show proper operating of the tool on the naked woman volunteer.

Just ick.

[katydid1971]

I see nothing wrong with this. It was an optional lecture students could choose to attend. They were warned multiple times of the subject matter and graphic nature of what would be discussed and shown. I remember taking Human Sexuality in college and we were shown video of all kinds of crazy stuff including female ejaculation and various sex toys. The class is called human sexuality - you don't sit around discussing the weather.
:yeahthat:
I'm a total prude and would never sign up for the class in the first place but it seems like it could be useful information for some of these students in the future. Has anyone watched that show on the OWN network, this is the kind of stuff the Psychologist is dealing with on that show and its on regular cable (no live demos of course)

[ohsara430]

:yeahthat:
I'm a total prude and would never sign up for the class in the first place but it seems like it could be useful information for some of these students in the future. Has anyone watched that show on the OWN network, this is the kind of stuff the Psychologist is dealing with on that show and its on regular cable (no live demos of course)

Yes I'll admit I have watched the show it's called "In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Burman(sp?)". It's actually quite interesting because it's about couples who are really struggling with serious relationship and sexual issues. Nothing graphic is ever shown but they do discuss things in detail about their past and current activities that the Dr. suggests for them as part of therapy. I actually consider myself quite a prude but am envious of people who can talk openly about sexuality.

[AnnieW625]

Am I the only one amused by this? It was completely voluntary... and the thing is called a sex saw! :ROTFLMAO:

That would've been my thinking too.

[american_mama]

Wow, what will universities be showing in 10 years? "Stay after class and we'll demonstrate to you different orgy set ups where all partners climax." Or how about, "Stay after class and we'll show you the proper way to perform Erotic Asphyxiation to make sure your partner isn't killed."

Seriously, how is watching something like this an important teaching tool? Who needs to know this stuff? And did the teacher of the class HONESTLY think that this was suppose to be educational "not titillating" to a roomful of college kids? "no honestly, I'm not trying to get you off. Watching a naked woman being pounded by a jackhammer dildo is an important part of your sex education." :rolleye0014: Next thing you know, they'll be calling up volunteers from the audience to show proper operating of the tool on the naked woman volunteer.

Just ick.


I agree with Lisa.

[mommy111]

Wow, what will universities be showing in 10 years? "Stay after class and we'll demonstrate to you different orgy set ups where all partners climax." Or how about, "Stay after class and we'll show you the proper way to perform Erotic Asphyxiation to make sure your partner isn't killed."

Seriously, how is watching something like this an important teaching tool? Who needs to know this stuff? And did the teacher of the class HONESTLY think that this was suppose to be educational "not titillating" to a roomful of college kids? "no honestly, I'm not trying to get you off. Watching a naked woman being pounded by a jackhammer dildo is an important part of your sex education." :rolleye0014: Next thing you know, they'll be calling up volunteers from the audience to show proper operating of the tool on the naked woman volunteer.

Just ick.
Didn't watch the video, but totally with Lisa here, this was not the right venue for something like that.

[jgenie]

I keep coming back to this and can't stop thinking about what place a woman has to be in to allow someone to use that on her in front of a room full of strangers. I get that some people are exhibitionists and enjoy having people watch them have sex. Not my cup of tea but whatever. I get that toys are fun. This one looked anything but. I cannot in a million years see myself or anyone I know being willing to participate as the model in this scenario. Such a degrading act to participate in and such a sad commentary on life today.

[MommyofAmaya]

The sex saw is terrifying and takes this to "wrong" all on it's own.

I took a social deviance class in college, and didn't find it necessary to see prostitutes, pedophiles, or drug users in action to understand the nature of their behavior.

[Roleysmom]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0304-schmich-column-story,0,5562722.story?obref=obinsite

This is a link to an interview with the professor. It's an interesting read.

[kijip]

I don't think it is appropriate but it doesn't sound like it was preplanned, even as a stay after thing, it was offered up on the spot during the stay after thing by 2 guests. I personally don't see that it would be a valuable teaching tool. I would assume that the school will likely bar this type of thing in the future.

[bubbaray]

The sex saw is terrifying and takes this to "wrong" all on it's own.

I took a social deviance class in college, and didn't find it necessary to see prostitutes, pedophiles, or drug users in action to understand the nature of their behavior.


:yeahthat:

Unfortunately, I clicked on the link of the video and saw the saw. OMG.

[daisymommy]

Quote from the video:
"I wouldn't consider this porn in anyway shape or form"
Whatever buddy... :shake:

[happy2bamom]

I have taught Human Sexuality at several Universities and I would NEVER consider that appropriate for an undergraduate college course. I have a master degree in human sexuality and never witnessed a live sex demo as part of my course work. It is totally unnecessary! Trust me, there is enough new information in a sex ed class to keep students interested and learning without resorting to live sex on the stage. I'm not a prude, but that is unnecessary and really just too much for the typical college age student.

[spunkybaby]

i agree to let it go. if they were warned and choose to stay (which is my understanding) its the students fault and they cannot blame anyone for what they saw. yes, a bad judgement call. BUT no harm done without permission

Sure the students could have chosen to stay or leave, but I think the prof set the students up for peer pressure. There may have been some students who would not want to watch this sex act but who felt pressured to stay and watch so that they wouldn't be considered prudes. I don't think that is fair to the students. At least you know if you go to a frat party, there will be heavy drinking and you will need to choose to drink or not. And if you don't think you can handle the peer pressure, you can simply avoid the situation.

These students had already shown up to a typical lecture. They were put in an awkward position; I don't think it was a true "choice." And I do think the professor was in the wrong.

[happy2bamom]

Sure the students could have chosen to stay or leave, but I think the prof set the students up for peer pressure. There may have been some students who would not want to watch this sex act but who felt pressured to stay and watch so that they wouldn't be considered prudes. I don't think that is fair to the students. At least you know if you go to a frat party, there will be heavy drinking and you will need to choose to drink or not. And if you don't think you can handle the peer pressure, you can simply avoid the situation.

These students had already shown up to a typical lecture. They were put in an awkward position; I don't think it was a true "choice." And I do think the professor was in the wrong.

I would be livid if I were a parent to one of those students. Paying all that money for an education and getting THAT instead! I totally agree that even though it was optional the prof is an authoritary figure which could also put pressure on students to stay (beyond the peer pressure issue).

[MamaSnoo]

I am not sure how this contributes to understanding sexual diversity or human sexuality as a whole. I am not a prude, and I am sure there is a wide range of expression of human sexuality. However, providing students the opportunity to observe one sex act (kinky or not) presents only one picture of sexuality, and in this case without the benefit of much guidance from the prof.

It would make more sense to me to have full discussions around the range of sexuality. Or even to have multiple live demos showing a range of practices with associated rigorous discussion and analytic content carefully constructed under the direction of the prof with the clear purpose of teaching, assuming the university and society as a whole could get around issues about public sex.

To me that is the main issue; there was no planning, no process of assessing the way in which this "demo" enhanced learning. While I do believe in "teachable moments" and experiential learning, I do not think that teaching happens on accident or without careful and insightful direction and effort from the teacher.

The article from the Chi Tribune is interesting because the prof seems to acknowledge that the teaching value was not there and that he would not do this again. I think he got duped by his "guests;" I suspect they had a gratitous desire to display their actions and used his course as the venue for their own personal fantasies. I doubt that the guests had a primary, vested interest in the education of the students.

[TwinFoxes]

To me that is the main issue; there was no planning, no process of assessing the way in which this "demo" enhanced learning. While I do believe in "teachable moments" and experiential learning, I do not think that teaching happens on accident or without careful and insightful direction and effort from the teacher.

The article from the Chi Tribune is interesting because the prof seems to acknowledge that the teaching value was not there and that he would not do this again. I think he got duped by his "guests;" I suspect they had a gratitous desire to display their actions and used his course as the venue for their own personal fantasies. I doubt that the guests had a primary, vested interest in the education of the students.

I think these are all good points.