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Week of Love Controversy

broken-double-heart-clipart-free-dc-basketcases-picturesBy Dominique Swanson—As Morningside’s week of love has come to a close, the controversy surrounding it has not entirely died out.

Many students seem to be concerned with the sexual focus of many of the activities that ran during the week, which began February 9 and ran until February 14.

Maria Falzone was here that week giving her presentation of ‘Sex Rules,’ which is a humorous lecture on safer and more enjoyable sex. Kara Bentz, a student and RA on Morningside College campus commented, “ I am all for educating students on safer sex, but I don’t think it is appropriate to encourage people by promoting how to have more pleasurable sex.”

Aside from Sex Rules, ‘Week of Love’ offered Stuff-a-Bear, Sexy-o (Bingo) with some prizes from Dr. John’s, ice-skating, and a midnight movie that offered 50 Shades of Grey in two of the three theaters.

Bentz explained that one of her main concerns was that it was called ‘Week of Love,’ when it felt much more like a ‘Week of Sex.’

Other students were in disagreement with Bentz, explaining how they enjoyed the events from the week and did not find any problems with them.

Sarah Yankowski gave her thoughts: “I think what people need to remember is that MAC didn’t seek out 50 Shades of Grey. It was chosen to be played due to popular demand just like the Hunger Games or Breaking Dawn. Aren’t we supposed to be college students? I think we should be able to handle a sexual movie with maturity.”

Yankowski further explained that she thought there was a good balance between the events, because Stuff-a-Bear was “definitely not about sex.”

The opinions ranged from different extremes and social media reflected the outcry of many of the students with the strongest thoughts on the matter. Some arguments discussed by the general student body included our affiliation with the Methodist Church; others arguing that it is a loose affiliation.

Shannon Westerfield, a Morningside Junior, looking at the situation from an entirely different light stated. “I was just disappointed they did not have a Valentines dinner this year, it was always my favorite part.”

Whether or not the week was more about love, sex, or simply just a disappointment of expectations, it did bring Morningside students together in an in-depth debate and tested their abilities to formulate arguments and stand by their values.

 

 

February 18, 2015

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