The Women's Resource Center at Eastern Michigan University is hosting its annual sexual health educational program, Sex in the Dark, for students at EMU on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 7-10 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
This year, Sex in the Dark will be a conference-style sexual health fair and educational forum.
This will be a glow in the dark themed event that will feature a panel of licensed experts and activities to educate students on consent, the WRC website said.
"Sex in the Dark is an annual sexual health education and awareness program designed to provide students with accessible, evidence-informed information about sexual and reproductive health, relationships, intimacy, consent, safer sex practices, and overall well-being. The event intentionally combines education, resource access, and community engagement in an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and nonjudgmental," Dr. Kimberly Ferrell, the WRC coordinator, wrote in a statement.
Ferrell wrote that the evening will begin with a student registration and check-in. Attendees will also be required to complete a community agreement which will establish expectations for respectful, inclusive and responsible participation.
"Following registration, students can create their own safer-sex kit using free sexual health products provided by the Women's Resource Center. Students can then explore the sexual health fair, where campus and community organizations will provide information about sexual health, mental health, wellness, relationships, self-care, and related services and resources," Ferrell wrote.
The main purpose of Sex in the Dark is for students to be able to ask questions regarding sexual health, which will be presented to a panel of experts. Students can scan a QR code and submit questions anonymously. Questions will be collected and screened before being displayed and discussed during the panel.
The panel is structured like a talk-show, with a moderated conversation. This format allows complex and sensitive topics to be addressed in a manner that is informative without being overly clinical or intimidating, Ferrell wrote.
The anonymity and lights turned off is intentional; students are able to ask about topics that may be difficult or embarrassing to talk about publicly without having to identify themselves.
Students who are comfortable doing so may also ask questions publicly during the panel, Ferrell told The Echo. The option for an anonymous submission or direct participation allows students to determine how visible they want their participation to be.
"One of the most significant developments in the program has been the transition from primarily peer-to-peer education to a professional expert-panel model," Ferrell wrote. "This change directly responds to student interest in having access to individuals with specialized training and professional expertise who can address questions related to sexual health, relationships, needs, concerns, and decision-making."
The goal of Sex in the Dark is to create a space where students feel comfortable, respected and engaged with asking questions and gathering educational information. Ferrell said that students will be able to obtain credible information about sexual health and will have access to connections with health and wellness resources.
"Students receive information about sex and relationships from numerous sources, including peers, social media, entertainment, and the internet. These sources can provide useful perspectives, but they do not consistently provide accurate or evidence-informed health information," Ferrell said in the statement.
Students who attend Sex in the Dark can interact with licensed experts and engage with topics involving consent, communication, relationships, personal boundaries, reproductive health, safer-sex practices, emotional well-being and access to health services.
The event will also provide food, mocktails and of course, glow-themed activities and materials. This type of atmosphere helps reduce stigma and discomfort that can surround conversations about sexual health, Ferrell wrote.
"The underlying message is that seeking information is a normal and responsible component of health and wellness," she wrote.
Students who wish to attend Sex in the Dark do not need to identify as sexually active, have a specific concern or arrive with a certain question, Ferrell said. The program is valuable for students who simply wish to know more about sexual health, learn about available resources or become more informed about their own health and relationships.
This event will be open to all students and those who attend can receive a Learning Beyond the Classroom (LBC) credit.
For more information or for those who have questions, students can contact Dr. Ferrell at 734-487-0364 or kdixson@emich.edu.
