4C SEX ON THE HILL
THE UNIVERSITY OF DAILY KANSAS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
Sex through the ages
Open talk of sex normal; where, when are the problems
BY CAITLIN THORNBRUGH
The nation's focus on scandal, controversy, innovation and most importantly sex, is no longer San Francisco or New York — it's right here in Lawrence.
For 141 years, the University of Kansas has been a prestigious school full of knowledge and opportunity. And for 141 years the students have been having sex here. Whether it was in the 1920s when girls were required to be in the dorms by 11 every night, or in 2006 when sex in the
libraries was not only happening but celebrated with Facebook groups. Sex is happening, evolving and influencing generation after generation.
Beth Bailey, a professor, historian and author of a historical work entitled "Sex in the Heartland," details the sexual revolution in the time of World War II through the '1970s. Her story is based in Lawrence.
"The sexual revolution was a process that fundamentally changed America," Bailey said. "Kansas is the quintessential
heartland. If it's happening in Kansas it's happening throughout the country"
Since the sexual revolution, many freedoms have been given to college students that were once considered shocking and disgraceful.
Chester Sullivan, English professor, has been working at the University for 31 years.
"The biggest difference between when I was in school is homosexuality, and how it is discussed in terms of course curriculum, newspapers and campus
groups," Sullivan said. "I was also surprised that in a writing class that I am teaching many people are living with their boyfriends or girlfriends outside of marriage."
Though the rules have changed, according to Sullivan, the fundamentals have stayed the same.
"Sex still occurred on campus," he said, "My friends, when I was an undergraduate, were sexually active."
While sex was definitely happening, reactions to sex were drastically different.
Bailey discussed a story that occurred on campus.
"Women had to be in the dorms by 11 at night, and when they were late three times they were grounded for the weekend," she said. "A man and woman went to a hotel for the night, and when the girl didn't return to her
dorm, the head mother called the police. The police tracked them down, brought them back to school and they were both kicked out."
Campus policies today are much more relaxed.
"I think that in some ways it's a little easier today," Bailey said. "There's less of your entire life being at stake for the sexual decisions you make in college."
Though getting booted for sexual intercourse is no longer an issue, the student body is still facing some challenges when it comes to having sex.
"From the perspective of myself, my friends and my roommates, one of the biggest challenges is getting it in the first place," Kansas City junior Brian Ervin said. "And the location — where it's going to go down."
Bailey also found challenges for sex in the new age.
"Technology has immensely complicated the process of courtship." Bailey said. "We are facing a new series of struggles in gender roles, but at the same time we are open to new ideas."
Bailey said the revolution and evolving of viewpoints regarding sexuality will continue.
"Lawrence is a much more complicated place than people who haven't been there can imagine," she said.
It's always been here, Sullivan says, but now it's much more readily discussed.
"There was just as much sexual activity when I was in college. It just wasn't as discussed. This is a good thing, because now we have a more liberal understanding," he said.
Froggy style or Italian chandelier you decide
BY LINDSAY WAPLES
If you find that your sex life has fallen into a slump, playing some between-the-sheets Twister might be just what you need. Everyone knows that variety is the spice of life, and the same rules apply to the bedroom. Many people don't know how to start rearranging their bedroom routine.
The Kama Sutra, originally written in Sanskrit between the first and fourth centuries, was an ancient how-to guide for sex. According to Anne Hooper, author of "Kama Sutra Sex Positions for Her and for Him," men of that time were expected to be tremendous lovers. The good news for ladies and men today is that modern Kama Sutra guides emphasize female and male favoring positions and contain fewer words with a lot more illustration.
Though the original Kama Sutra was different than the glossy, pornographic manuals today, the principle is the same;
its goal is to satisfy the human curiosity of sexuality.
Once a couple has decided that they are both comfortable and willing to experiment with Kama Sutra, they shouldn't just try these bedroom acrobatics on their own. It is easy to find a resource that will help couples start from novice positions to far more advanced arrangements. Position of the Day is an interactive manual that is fun to fill out as well as informative. The daily positions feature sections named "Equipment," "Hazards" and "Calories Burned," informing the participants on what to expect during their romp session. Users can add comments and rate the different positions, making it easy to return to favorites.
The Cosmo Kama Sutra compiled by the editors of Cosmopolitan is a flirty guide marketed more toward women than men. This guide boasts "secret body hot spots" and witty named positions like the "G-spot jiggy" and "Figure 8."
The positions include difficulty ratings and pre-sex stretches safety first. The colorful drawings and clever captions are amusing enough just to flip through.
Experts agree that having an active and satisfying sex life is more than just pleasurable. It's good for your physical and emotional health. Once you embellish your sexual repertoire, you should expect to feel happier and will become more resistant to physical and emotional pain. In their book, "The Good Sex Guide," Paula Hall and Julian Slowinski rave about the health benefits having sex can achieve. Sex can boost your immune system and increase lean body tissue. Hall and Slowinski also say sex can make you look four to seven years younger.
Most importantly, sex releases the chemical oxytContin, which is responsible for human bonding. It's true that the couple that plays together stays together. So go get busy, and don't forget to stretch.
Beastliness aside,men need a little sensitivity
Let's look at our childhoods shall we? A lot of students at the University watched Power Rangers as kids. In the show there was Jason, whose expertise was using his martial arts skills to punch grey people in the chest. There was Zach, who could really bust a move, when not punching those same grey people. Heck, even Billy "Computer-Nerd" got in on the putty pummelling. No matter who you are, what you do or what your problem was, a punch in the chest was the solution.
And that's my point. Where's the sensitivity? It seems like we're encouraged to leave our emotion at Shining Time Station and jump that first train out of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Then as we grow up we're inundated with tough-guy images, barrel chests, cleft chins and many swaggers.
Some guys just aren't that kind of guy. Some men enjoy less than a third of a pound of beef on a sandwich. Some men feel warm
BY ZACH WHITE
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
EDITOR@KANSAN.COM
inside at the meow of a kitten.
And some men like to cuddle.
To those who would attempt to disavow the existence of male tenderness on the foundation of male aggression and our ancestral history as hunters and warriors, I would say this; The frequent motive behind ancient male violence and aggression was either
Now there are those who would criticize these men, and possess an entire vocabulary of titles for them. Most of these titles would probably be calling the recipient's sexuality into question or just refuting his masculinity. These claims, though, would be ill-conceived and just plain hurtful.
to support or to defend one's mate, progeny or property. The days of the saber tooth tiger have passed. A better way to give your mate support is to clutch her to your chest. There's nothing like a firm embrace to tell her: "If they clone a mastodon one day, I'll spear it down for you."
Frankly though, anyone who completely denies the appeal of a good cuddle has got to be fooling themselves. Even the toughest of men need a hug sometimes. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Schriver just celebrated their 20th anniversary. If The Terminator needs a warm body to hold on to, how can anyone claim to be too manly for it?
And at the very least, if your testosterone won't let you consider the psychological benefits of a cuddle buddy, then perhaps the fact that the added warmth of another body could cut your energy bill will appeal to your male frugality. It could save some money for beer or meat.