2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: "Healthy Lovin' Week"
Issue date: 4/8/05 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Editor,
We (the members of Health Promotions, REACH, and V-Day Rollins College) were all saddened to read in the February 24, 2005 Sandspur opinions article, "Healthy Lovin' Week," how our combined efforts were summarized as a means to promote promiscuity. The few events mentioned in the article were falsely judged. For example, "The Vagina Monologues" was described as "listening to monologues told from the perspective of a female body part." There is more to this play than people speaking from the vagina's point of view. The Vagina Monologues explore the shame that has forced women into submission throughout history. In this light the vagina is personified as someone who has needs, deserves a voice, and must be respected. Summarizing the play's plot as pertaining to a female body part diminishes the efforts of all the men and women who have pushed for women's liberation and disregards their accomplishments. Furthermore, this interpretation of the event is disrespectful and derogatory to those students who spent six months of their lives planning and staging the play.
Like the "Vagina Monologues," false comments were made about the condom bingo program. First, we would like to remind people that condom bingo is still just bingo. We played bingo using condoms as chips, as well as providing real chips for those who felt uncomfortable using condoms. In addition to Condom bingo we distributed Abstinence bags, which were greatly appreciated by the students who felt unrepresented by our previous events. Along with the bags we also had a bead jewelry table for those who wanted to make something for the meaningful people in their lives. Nonetheless, all our efforts to make the above programs inclusive to all lifestyles were neglected by the author of the "Healthy Lovin' Week" article.
Finally, of all the Healthy Lovin' Week events that promoted responsibility, Mrs. Oil was the most instructive. She spoke about the proper uses of condoms, dental dams, lubes, and other safer sex items. Mrs. Oil made it clear every few minutes that people who were not ready to hear what she had to say and talk about these issues with their partners were not mature enough to engage in sexual activities. Mrs. Oil summed up her message by saying that, "you can have the best sex of your life, but sex is not worth your life." Clearly the Mrs. Oil program, like all the other Healthy Lovin' Week events, was not aimed at promiscuity but at responsibility.
In sum, as health organizations we focus on educating about living a healthier life without making judgments about lifestyles. We strive to represent as many students as we can and guide them through their difficulties. We encourage feedback from our peers; it is what makes us grow as organizations. It is only through the contribution of people of all lifestyles that REACH, Health Promotions, and V-Day Rollins College can achieve their goal of creating a healthy campus. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with our current programming we invite you to come make your voice heard.
Manu Maculet,
Adam Phillips-Silver,
Abby Hertz, and
Rina Tovar
On behalf of REACH, Health Promotions, V-Day Rollins College.
We (the members of Health Promotions, REACH, and V-Day Rollins College) were all saddened to read in the February 24, 2005 Sandspur opinions article, "Healthy Lovin' Week," how our combined efforts were summarized as a means to promote promiscuity. The few events mentioned in the article were falsely judged. For example, "The Vagina Monologues" was described as "listening to monologues told from the perspective of a female body part." There is more to this play than people speaking from the vagina's point of view. The Vagina Monologues explore the shame that has forced women into submission throughout history. In this light the vagina is personified as someone who has needs, deserves a voice, and must be respected. Summarizing the play's plot as pertaining to a female body part diminishes the efforts of all the men and women who have pushed for women's liberation and disregards their accomplishments. Furthermore, this interpretation of the event is disrespectful and derogatory to those students who spent six months of their lives planning and staging the play.
Like the "Vagina Monologues," false comments were made about the condom bingo program. First, we would like to remind people that condom bingo is still just bingo. We played bingo using condoms as chips, as well as providing real chips for those who felt uncomfortable using condoms. In addition to Condom bingo we distributed Abstinence bags, which were greatly appreciated by the students who felt unrepresented by our previous events. Along with the bags we also had a bead jewelry table for those who wanted to make something for the meaningful people in their lives. Nonetheless, all our efforts to make the above programs inclusive to all lifestyles were neglected by the author of the "Healthy Lovin' Week" article.
Finally, of all the Healthy Lovin' Week events that promoted responsibility, Mrs. Oil was the most instructive. She spoke about the proper uses of condoms, dental dams, lubes, and other safer sex items. Mrs. Oil made it clear every few minutes that people who were not ready to hear what she had to say and talk about these issues with their partners were not mature enough to engage in sexual activities. Mrs. Oil summed up her message by saying that, "you can have the best sex of your life, but sex is not worth your life." Clearly the Mrs. Oil program, like all the other Healthy Lovin' Week events, was not aimed at promiscuity but at responsibility.
In sum, as health organizations we focus on educating about living a healthier life without making judgments about lifestyles. We strive to represent as many students as we can and guide them through their difficulties. We encourage feedback from our peers; it is what makes us grow as organizations. It is only through the contribution of people of all lifestyles that REACH, Health Promotions, and V-Day Rollins College can achieve their goal of creating a healthy campus. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with our current programming we invite you to come make your voice heard.
Manu Maculet,
Adam Phillips-Silver,
Abby Hertz, and
Rina Tovar
On behalf of REACH, Health Promotions, V-Day Rollins College.