NU College Feminists, SHAPE, CARE collaborate on Sex Week

Amid the meals students held in their hands at midday Wednesday at the Norris University Center, there were some unfamiliar sights, from phallus-shaped candles covered in glitter to tie-dye sex toys.

Members of Northwestern Sex Week held a sex toy raffle at the Norris entrance as part of an ongoing three-day program to promote sexual health and confidence. NU College Feminists planned Sex Week in collaboration with sexual health and assault peer educators and the Center for Awareness, Response and Education.

Kaleah Estep, Sex Week co-leader and Weinberg sophomore, said the goal of the program is to promote students’ sexual health and confidence. She said the week aims to raise awareness and ensure sex on campus becomes less taboo. With Wednesday’s raffle, she hoped to give students “the opportunity to try new things.”

“It shouldn’t be such a taboo topic. I believe that people are afraid and that they should be afraid to talk openly about it,” Estep said. “I don’t think it should matter. It can be a closed thing if you want it to be, but it could also be open if you want it to be.”

Weinberg senior Skylar Waldron was one of more than a dozen people waiting for organizers to release a new batch of free sex toys from Chicago store Early to Bed at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

On “Wet Wednesday,” students lined up 15 minutes before the toy distribution. The week, which began with “Make-It-Spicy Monday,” also features educational programs led by SHAPE and CARE.

Jordyn Simon, co-leader of Sex Week and Weinberg sophomore said the sex toy giveaway was “everyone’s favorite.”

“We have dildos and vibrators,” Simon said. “We have some fun candles and we have these cute little soft penis toys that are my favorite.”

Waldron described Sex Week as a week dedicated to “educating and empowering” people on their sexual health journey.

“Many people (assigned female at birth) are taught and shown that sexuality is a bad thing,” Waldron said. “You are degraded as a sexual being, even though everyone has hormones and bodies. So it’s nice to see something for everyone.”

Simon said she wants to see more conversations about sexual health, but stressed that those conversations also need to be inclusive and include topics like queer sex.

For example, Simon said her friends knew what dildos and vibrators were, but didn’t know what a butt plug was.

SHAPE provided students with access to lubricants, condoms and information packs at G-Spot on Monday. The group also had a “Hot and Sexy Chicken” conversation on Monday night about safe sex, sexual pleasure and kink.

At the end of the week, CARE and the Women’s Center welcome social worker and psychotherapist Sophia Etling (SESP ’18).

Simon said the talk will focus on safe sex practices, consent and sex work.

Sex Week has been a staple at NU for over a decade, a tradition Simon describes as “exciting.” Planning for this year began in February.

Last year’s program lasted eight days. A statement on Sex Week’s Instagram said the decision to shorten this year’s program was made to support the NU Divestment Coalition – the group behind it a five-day pro-Palestinian camp at Deering Meadow – and “to focus attention on liberation.”

David Samson contributed reporting.

E-mail: (email protected)

X: @beatricedvilla

Similar posts:

— NU Sex Week teaches inclusive, safe and enjoyable practices

— SHAPE shares sexual health resources and puts pleasure front and center for Sex Week

— Northwestern Sex Week speakers talk about “Crip Sexy” and disability justice