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Cathlene Hardy Hansen
IU Health Center
chhansen@indiana.edu
812-855-7338

Tracy James
University Communications
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Last modified: Monday, October 26, 2009

'Sexploration at IU' to begin Monday in Bloomington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 26, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sexploration at IU, the second annual weeklong series of fun, interactive sex-positive events offering Indiana University students information about sexuality related issues, begins today (Oct. 26) on the Bloomington campus.

Sexploration at IU

Events include talks by the wildly popular sexuality expert and columnist Dan Savage and IU sex researcher Debby Herbenick, author of Because it Feels Good, A Woman's Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction, free HIV testing, the 37th annual IU Health Fair and a "retrosexual film showing." Sexploration at IU is developed and organized by the IU Health Center's Health & Wellness Education Department.

"Sexploration at IU is an opportunity for us to explore sexuality in a fun yet educational way outside of the classroom," said Cathlene Hardy Hansen, director of Health and Wellness Education at the IU Health Center. "One's sexuality should not be feared or a cause of distress -- information, and the skills to talk about these issues help students develop good knowledge that they will use now and later in life. We are using a creative, sex-positive approach to educate, entertain and explore the role of sex in our lives. This is sex education at its very best -- some of the best learning on campus is available for free outside of the classroom ."

Dan Savage

Dan Savage

Each day's events will fall under a different theme: Monday asks "Am I Normal?" Tuesday's theme is "Sex Talk," examining healthy sexual communication; Wednesday's events give "Sexual Insight" with an opportunity to discover your own unique sexual personality; and Thursday's events examine "Health and Sex" with the 37th annual IU Health Fair Health. The day's events culminate in the opportunity to ask questions of Savage, author of several books, including Savage Love: Straight Answers from America's Most Popular Sex Columnist.

The following are some Sexploration highlights of the week:

  • "RAISE: Raising Awareness of Interactions in Sexual Encounters," Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Briscoe Center, room C202: Learn more about gaining consent in sexual relationships.
  • "Sex Research Live!" Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. at Morrison Hall, room 007: Kinsey Institute researchers and Director Julia Heiman will discuss the "hows" and "whys" of current sex research, give audience members an opportunity to respond to selected questions, and to compare themselves to the research findings on various aspects of sexual behavior.
  • "Because it Feels Good!" a discussion with Debby Herbenick, Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at Rachael's Café, 300 East Third St. Herbenick is a sex researcher and sexual health educator at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, of which she is associate director, and the Kinsey Institute. Author of Because it Feels Good, A Woman's Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction, Herbenick also is the health educator for Kinsey Confidential and writes widely about sexual health and satisfaction topics. Her blog can be found at https://www.MySexProfessor.com.
  • IU Health Center's 37th Annual Health Fair, Thursday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall. This event includes free screenings, information, massage and snacks.
  • "Savage Love" with Dan Savage, Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall: Savage will deliver his unique brand of sex advice as he does in "Savage Love," an internationally syndicated sex column read by millions of people every week. Savage is a sexuality advocate who answers questions about virginity, orgasms, monogamy and more. For more information, read https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/12270.html.

"Often sexual health education is disease-based and unfortunately, fear-based. What Sexploration at IU can do is make essential information available, accessible and interactive making the whole topic less scary and more fun," said Kathryn Brown, a sexual health educator at the IU Health Center's Department of Health and Wellness Education. "College is such an important time for students to decide how they feel about many things, including sexuality. This is a great time to show students a variety of resources available to them here on campus."

Tables with information about condoms will be set up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indiana Memorial Union Literature Desk on Monday, at the School of Education atrium on Tuesday and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation lobby on Wednesday.

Sponsors for "Sexploration at IU" include Pure Romance, Inc., Union Board, Kinsey Institute, Kinsey Confidential, Planned Parenthood, Bloomington Hospital's Positive Link, RAISE, Sexual Assault Crisis Service, Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Campus Coalition for Sexual Literacy, GLBT Student Support Services, Women's Clinic-IU Health Center and Residential Programs and Services

For a detailed schedule of "Sexploration at IU" events, visit https://www.indiana.edu/~health/.

For more information, please contact Cathlene Hardy Hansen at 812-855-7338 or chhansen@indiana.edu.