By Maya Liquigan

October 12, 2024

More than 50 students attended a sexual health event on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Hive on campus to learn about topics ranging from pregnancy prevention, how to use sex toys safely and best orgasm practices.

This was the second time the event was held. The first time was in the spring semester. Student Engagement and Leadership Office hosted in partnership with the Center for Student Wellbeing and the Columbia College Chicago Library. The event organizer, Alice Abreu, a senior double major studying film and communications, brought back the event with new sponsors and resources this fall.

Several tables throughout the Hive were lined with a variety of free flavored lubes, colorful condoms and posters promoting safe sex reading “Embrace your sexuality with authenticity and self love,” and “hydrate, meditate, masturbate.”

Abreu and Sabel Colon, a senior film and television major, organized the event to promote safe sex talks and resources for students at Columbia. 

“Sex is a big part of our lives,” Abreu said. “It’s just so important to know your body and it’s a way for you to connect with yourself as well. It’s not only about doing it with someone else, but it’s a great way to discover yourself and know what you like and know what you don’t like.” 

Abreu said that she did not receive a lot of sexual education growing up, but wanted to create an opportunity for others to learn about safe sex at Columbia. 

Skye Baker, a sophomore theater design major, heard about the event from friends. He said he felt like he needed to come to the event since most of his background of sex education while living in Texas focused on abstinence. 

As an openly bisexual trans man, Baker said that “safe sex is always gonna be the best sex.” 

“Exposing young adults to it is how they learn,” he said. “Especially with the topic of teen pregnancy, that kind of education lowers the rates.” 

Baker stood with junior graphic design major Trinity Sutton and took turns smelling the different flavored lube lined on the table as they discussed the importance of safe sex. Sutton stumbled into the event when coming to study at the Hive and said that her favorite scent of lube was orange cream. 

“It’s not really talked about in my household and really in my culture, being African American,” she said. “When I came to Columbia, I noticed that everybody really embraced their sexuality and I think that’s an amazing thing.” 

Sutton said that coming to Columbia exposed her to people of all different sexualities and made her more comfortable talking about sex. She said her strict household was part of the reason she did not know much about sex.

 “I think this event is really important to gain more information and knowledge about who you are and your sexuality and what makes you feel comfortable,” Sutton said. 

The event included free lube and condoms sponsored by Wicked Sensual Care, One Condom and Aloe Cadabra. At the start of the event, students had a chance to participate in multiple activities regarding safe sex practices. 

Dr. Nicole Williams, founder and CEO of the Gynecology Institute of Chicago, and Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, a sex shop in Andersonville, were featured speakers.

Some students practiced putting expired condoms on cucumbers, wrote anonymous quotes on a confession wall or explored the tables of resources and books from the Center of Student Wellbeing and the library. Students also entered to win one of the 18 free sex toys sponsored by Maude. 

Afterwards, Williams took the stage, and students filled nearly every couch in the Hive as she spoke about a variety of topics ranging from pregnancy prevention to the origin of the G-spot. 

At the start of the talk, students near the front of the crowd covered their faces and nervous laughs and giggles filled the room when Williams spoke about different sex positions. As students became more comfortable, multiple students raised their hands to ask specific questions about sex. Williams ended by answering anonymous questions that people submitted at the start of the event. 

Maia Farmer, a junior cinema and television major, said they wanted Williams to talk more about sex between same-sex couples. Farmer, a transfer student, is from a part of Pennsylvania they described as “very sex negative.” The talk with Williams made them feel more comfortable than their previous school, especially as a trans person.

“They’re making sure students are very safe,” Farmer said. “At my former college, because I’m a transfer student, they would never have something like this. I feel like if they did something like this, they wouldn’t include sex for same-sex couples like that. I really like that they’re making sure the students are safe and that they are educated.”

Sex store owner Deysach brought in multiple sex toys to show at the event. She demonstrated how to use the different toys and spoke to students about how to use them safely, whether it is with a partner or alone. 

Nick Pulley, a sophomore programming major, said that he learned more about sex from Deysach’s talk.

“It was very interesting,” he said. “I feel like I did know a lot of what she was talking about, but a lot of it was also new.” 

Abreu and Colon ended the event with the awaited sex toy giveaway bingo that featured different sex positions on the cards. The Hive was filled with energy as multiple students yelled “bingo” and claimed their free sex toy. Some also won a free copy of Williams’s book, “This is How You Vagina.” 

By the end of the night, students walked away with handfuls of condoms, their favorite lube and a better understanding of safe sex. 

Pulley said he enjoyed, “how positive everyone was about everything.” 

“I know the whole point is positivity, but it’s just like, people being so open about things is really really lovely to see.”