In the April 11 issue of The Eagle, an op-ed entitled “Tobacco-Free policy isn’t a solution, just pushes problem off AU’s campus,” was published, which I nearly agreed with.
At one point the author cited the University’s S&M seminar as evidence. He claimed that a cigarette ban is hypocritical, because at the same time, “The University promotes high-risk sex, for example, by allowing a S&M seminar this past month.”
He went on to say that banning smoking is therefore comparable to “banning all sex on campus, the only way to ensure students don’t contract potentially deadly sexually transmitted diseases.”
He finally says that a sex ban would “infringe on the rights of students in the same way the current smoking proposals do.”
While I agree with the message from the rest of the article, his criticism of the S&M seminar is quite unjust. The seminar was used to discuss how to safely enjoy the lifestyle of S&M. While all sex carries the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, his regarding S&M as “high-risk sex” is inappropriate and incorrect.
Again, I am very against the idea of a smoking ban, but the comparison puts a bad name on S&M, or sexuality in general. S&M, when done safely (as was the topic of the seminar), carries no risk beyond that of any other sexuality.
The event was hosted by Queers and Allies, and had he made the same remark of gay sex (which would be equally incorrect), the comment would be instantly criticized for being blatantly incorrect and offensive.
The University frequently has events and programs to promote healthy, consensual sex, and their commitment to this should be commended, not criticized as being something that “promotes high risk sex.”
While it can certainly be argued that the smoking ban oversteps its boundaries, both the smoking ban and programs brought by the University to promote sexual health, including S&M 101, are meant to create a healthier campus.
Whether it be S&M, gay sex, straight sex, no sex, or any other form of healthy, consensual activity, no sexuality should be discussed in this manner. To compare it to smoking, something which is objectively unhealthy and harmful to the body, is uncalled for.
Ford Fischer is a freshman in the School of Communication.
edpage@theeagleonline.com
