The Happy Trail

On Sunday, March 4, researchers announced that a Mississippi toddler has become the first child to ever be functionally cured of HIV, giving hope to many HIV- and AIDS-infected people worldwide that a cure to this seemingly incurable virus may be on the horizon. Typically, pregnant women in the United States are tested for HIV as a routine part of prenatal care so that those who are diagnosed can receive proper treatment in order to decrease the chances of their child inheriting the virus. The mother of this child, however,...

Feeling good about yourself is really the foundation for any kind of success, and it’s most certainly one of the most crucial parts of a fantastic sex life. When you respect yourself, other people will respect you, too. When you are capable of making your own decisions, you’re less likely to do something you’ll regret tomorrow. This is where enthusiastic consent (a phrase I hope we’re all familiar with on this liberal artsy sex-positive campus) comes in—you should never, ever feel guilted or pressured or obligated to make sexytimes with...

By GIRTH BROOKS The prostate. Most of us have heard of it. It is refered to in many tantra writings as the “sacred gate.” Sometimes known as the elusive “male g-spot,” the prostate opens up many doors for sexual stimulation in males. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about the prostate. Before we delve into these misunderstandings and techniques in how to stimulate the prostate, we must first figure out exactly what the hell this mysterious gland is in the first place. The prostate is located just under the...

At birth, the penis comes with an extra inch or two of skin that covers the glans (the head of the penis) when flaccid. This is the foreskin, a contentious debate in Penile Politics these days. Many individuals at birth, or other times, undergo circumcision to remove the foreskin from the penis, leaving the glans open when both flaccid and erect. There are those who value circumcision is as a tradition in both religious and cultural contexts. It is common in America, while many Europeans are, as they say, “uncut.”...

By HARRY SASSCROTCH Pubic Hair.  It’s one of the few aspects of sex that is ever given really serious thought.  Yet we see it all the time (don’t act like you’ve never seen it in the shower). Not only do we see our own set of pubes (or even a lack thereof), many are constantly barraged with images from porn or elsewhere. Jokes are made about shaving it, porn stars have them specifically trimmed or waxed, even celebrities advocate the latest beauty trends about it! First things first, everyone’s pubes...

Well, it’s nearly 2 a.m. You finally finished your essay. You’re a little stressed and ready to get some sleep. But as you’re browsing the web one last time before heading to bed, something catches your eye. So you type in the url of your favorite porn site, unzip your pants, and relieve a little bit of that “stress” before finally hitting the hay. Porn is easy, right? Porn is simple? Porn is cool. But let’s be honest here, porn is pretty controversial, too. Researchers are in a constant battle...

To those devoted listeners to KUPS, there is a new show that comes on Sundays at 6 p.m. that has given a new direction to the station. The show is Mattress Music.  And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. For one steamy hour, there is streaming music dedicated to passionate lovemaking, frantic f****** and casual sex. Senior Mel Kohler came up with the idea of doing the show after a conversation with friends. “The inspiration for my show actually came from a question one of my best friends asked...

Well it’s nearly 2 a.m. You finally finished your essay. You’re a little stressed and ready to get some sleep. But as you’re browsing the web one last time before heading to bed, something catches your eye. So you type in the url of your favorite porn site, unzip your pants, and relieve a little bit of that “stress” before finally hitting the hay. Porn is easy, right? Porn is simple? Porn is cool. But let’s be honest here, porn is pretty controversial, too. Researchers are in a constant battle...

BDSM—Bondage and Domination/Discipline and Submission/Sadism and Masochism—has gotten a serious PR boost these days, with ladies getting all tingly down there over 50 Shades of Gray. But BDSM is much more than a naughty pastime for the socially inept or sociopathic (seriously, don’t even get me started on all that is wrong with 50 Shades). Whether you’re just watching some porn or enacting scenes yourself, those of us who love to get kinky are often doing serious identity exploration. The transgressive nature of BDSM opens the door to exploring the...

Anal sex is the universal link, friends. Everybody has a butt! Yet the noble asshole simply does not get the lovin’ it deserves — I’m looking at you, hetero ladies. Now, while straight girl is the only perspective that I can personally speak from, these tips can apply to anybody looking to try something new, be it with a toy (with a flared base) or a penis. So let’s do some anal real talk. I was set on never having anal sex, because despite all claims to the contrary, I...

OH YEAH F**K ME LIKE A DIRTY LITTLE SLUT YOU BITCH. Ahem. Excuse me. Let’s take a step back and ease our way into this one. Dirty talk. Dirty talk is a simple act that can really spice up a bedroom. Now, don’t be intimidated by my introduction. Dirty talk can mean anything from non-verbal vocalizations to intense dom/sub role play. And nobody is expecting you to scream and shout like Jenna Jameson your first go. So for those who are new to dirty talk, the first thing you should...

Well, hello there. Fancy seeing you here. Welcome to a brand spankin’ new year of The Happy Trail—your friendly neighborhood sex section (sextion?). My fellow writers and I are so excited by the honor of bringing you another year of information, advice and horrible puns. A few rules for our beautiful new relationship—first off, we are not experts. We are students just like you who want to promote healthy conversation among our fellow lovers and learners. If you need medical or psychological advice please find an expert—we are trained only...