AU students need information to be empowered to make sexual decisions, according to Women's Initiative Director Vanessa Mueller.
This week, Women's Initiative organized a series of events to mark Sexual Responsibility Week - a national celebration held annually during the week of Valentine's Day, Mueller said.
The group started the week with a "passion party" on Sunday afternoon. Women's Initiative designed the event specifically for women, but made it open to everyone in the AU community. The event was "like Tupperware parties but a lot more fun," Mueller said.
Women's Initiative usually has two to three "passion parties" each year, but this one was particularly successful with about 25 people in attendance, Mueller said. Michelle Carnes, who is a doctoral student in the College of Arts and Sciences, led the party. Mueller said Carnes' discussion on the three P's of womanhood really stuck with her, Mueller said.
"Michelle always says women are only taught two P's: period and pregnancy. But there is also a third: pleasure," she said.
Participants could order sex toys and tools from a variety of catalogs, or they could attend simply to discuss sex in a comfortable environment.
On Monday, Women's Initiative held a sexually transmitted illness and HIV information session with Melissa Sellevaag, education and training coordinator of the STD Control program at the D.C. Department of Health. Sellevaag discussed the relationships between having a STI and contracting HIV. Women's Initiative also advertised the Wellness Center's free HIV testing.
It's important to promote safe sex to college students, said Liz Ardagna, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"It's good to get the word out," Ardagna said.
Students will be able to put their sexual awareness to use and celebrate a safe Valentine's Day with the "Give a Rubber to Your Lover" program. Women's Initiative bought more than 2,000 condoms for distribution in and around MGC today, Mueller said.
Michael Ryder, a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business, said he thought Women's Initiative was doing a good thing by handing out condoms.
"I think that's a great idea because people at AU need to practice safe sex," Ryder said.
Sexual Responsibility Week is not only about engaging in sex, Mueller said. It is also meant to celebrate all aspects of sexuality, including abstinence.
"Sexual Responsibility Week is also to talk about the choice to have sex," Mueller said.
Alex Graffeo, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, said he agreed with Sexual Responsibility Week's mission of trying to transform society's view of sex from a dirty secret to a healthy decision.
"I think it's a good idea because people need to understand that sometimes, no matter how careful you are, things happen," Graffeo said.
