By Andrew Benoit
On Feb. 18, around lunchtime, the Rotunda was sexier (and better educated) than usual. That’s because it was home to the first SEX (Sex and Sexuality Education & Exploration) Fest, organized by Counseling, Health and Wellness Services (CHWS) in coordination with Bystander Revolution Against Violence (BRAVe). The event, which is aimed at encouraging students to engage with sexual health and wellness topics, was paired with a Q&A event along with a Trivia Night in the Den featuring Poison Waters, a well known Portland drag queen.
Wellness Education & Prevention Specialist Danielle Bus, RN, who helped organize the event, said that SEX Fest was all about getting the conversation started. “It’s important to talk about sex. You know, we want to reduce stigma around talking about sex. We want people to ask questions,” she said. “This is not just a sort of a niche health topic. This is really a big part of your life, and it reflects different aspects of your life in different ways.”
There was plenty of information to prompt the kinds of questions that Bus was talking about. The tables around the rotunda all featured informational material from organizations like Bystander Revolution Against Violence (BRAVe), the Chaplaincy and the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA). Besides information, many tables were handing out goodies including lube, condoms, the Plan B pill and tote bags. Collins Memorial Library even had a table full of books relating to sex, sexuality and gender. Students could check these books out directly from SEX Fest, just like if they were at the library.
BRAVe’s involvement in the festivities highlighted the importance of consent as part of sexual health. “Consent is what makes sex pleasurable. Sex is not really pleasurable without consent. So it’s kind of a crucial foundation for sexual health and sexual education,” said Daisy Davidson (‘27), a BRAVe specialist. To showcase this, BRAVe’s table included a Consent Candy Hearts activity, where students shared their favorite ways to ask for or reaffirm consent.
While the sexual health information was the focus of the fest, visitors could also walk away with prizes. After visiting all the tables, students were encouraged to complete a survey and enter their names into a raffle. Prizes included a vibrator, lingerie, books and self-care supplies, most of which was donated by local organizations or companies.
This year’s SEX Fest was the first of its kind and Bus hopes to repeat the event next year. She also hopes that successive iterations of the festival will be bigger. “It’s a little small this year. We hope to make it bigger in future years,” Bus remarked. If that is the case, the future looks promising for sexual health education on campus.
In the meantime, Bus hopes people use CHWS and the resources it provides to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy when it comes to their sexual lives. She encouraged students to take advantage of the gynecological care and STI testing that CHWS offers. She also highlighted CHWS’s mental health resources like counseling, especially related to sexuality. “If people have questions about their sexuality, or they’re exploring their sexuality and really want a space to do that confidentially, CHWS is a great place to work through some of those things,” she said.