Editor,I strongly support “Sex Week” at UNM, and thank and compliment Summer Little, Omar Torres, Addie Gillespie, Hunter Riley and many more.Why are campus vending machines and restaurants selling health-destroying crap more acceptable than celebrating sex?
Dr Peg’s Prescription – October 3, 2014 – VirusesBy Peggy Spencer, MDWhen I was a little girl, my mother read me the story of Chicken Little.
Editor, After carefully following the discussion surrounding the recent announcement regarding sex education at UNM, I would like to offer my feelings on the matter.
Editor, I am very grateful to the Women’s Resource Center for sponsoring important talks about communication, consent and creating a safe community at UNM.
Editor,It is nothing short of astounding to talk with various students, but mostly professors, about the so-called civil war in Syria.
Editor,In the past few days, I have noticed the strong backlash against the UNM Women’s Resource Center for their recent implementation of “Sex Week,” a week of sexual health events on campus and at Self Serve.
Editor,Since entering this University over four years ago, I have witnessed many events hosted and resources provided for sex education.As a resident advisor, I helped host events and programs to provide this information to on-campus residents. The Residence Hall Association hosts at least one event per semester to provide residents with important information and best practices for safer sex, especially to freshmen who have no idea what to expect in college and living on campus. Some of these events have themes such as “Sex in the Dark” and “Sex and Vampires.”
UNM’s apology for “Sex Week” is damaging to free speech, academic freedom and all of the work being done on campus to prevent sexual assault. A college is meant to be a place to discuss ideas and to examine ideologies, even when those ideas or ideologies are uncomfortable. This is a vital part of the learning process, and the apology written by Vice President of Student Affairs Eliseo “Cheo” Torres hampers that operation.Torres wrote that the University was apologizing because “ ... the initiative did not have ... close enough supervision to prevent the inclusion of topics that are sensational and controversial.”
For copy: Bigotry can be defined as a disorderBenjamin,If you have been following the news, you may have heard that same-sex marriage is now legal in almost 20 states.
Editor,According to the urban dictionary a frenemy is “an enemy disguised as a friend.” Muslims all over the world should familiarize themselves with this definition, because there are groups and organizations pretending to be the friends of Muslims and of Islam when in fact they are like a cancer.
Editor,Who exactly is offended by UNM’s Sex Week? The people attending the lectures?
Editor,Over the last few days I have read letters that not only were written like 11th-grade argument papers, but most importantly seemed to have a decidedly conservative tone.One complained about the Sex Week lectures provided by the Women’s Resource Center; another claimed that, unlike Christianity, paganism is not a supported religion; and the one that really hit home was the letter that stated they could “scientifically” prove that homosexuality is unnatural.
Editor,As a former GPSA council chair (2012-13), I want to register my support of the Women’s Resource Center and its Sex Week programming.Back during the search for a permanent WRC director, GPSA sent a resolution in support of Summer Little’s candidacy to the search committee and several administrative offices. Summer has always done everything she can to support student government’s mission of helping all students achieve their full potential.
Editor,I feel the need to write in because I think that some people’s understanding of “Sex Week” is not only incorrect, but misleading. These workshops teach young people how to navigate around all aspects of sex.Yes, they may “promote” sex, but many of us on campus are sexually active and need advice on certain aspects of our sexuality (since most of us haven’t had much of a sexual education in the first place).
Editor,It doesn’t seem as though Mr. Ben Sanchez spent much time paying attention in his psychology classes when he clumsily attempted to support his argument in Wednesday’s letter that homosexuality should be recognized as a “disorder.” One argument made by Sanchez that I find particularly dismissible is his claim that homosexuality in humans constitutes a disorder because of its relatively infrequent occurrence compared to heterosexual behavior. By this logic, any characteristic that does not benefit from majority representation can be so defined as a “disorder” — regardless of whether it has any deleterious effect on one’s quality of life or overall ability to function.
Editor,Due to the recent letter by Benjamin Sanchez, I have recently learned I suffer from the debilitating disorder known as “homosexuality.”I have lived with it for all my life, but never knew my feelings were the horrible affliction that was described. I have since looked into treatments for such a disorder, but have found that the treatments are much more harmful that the disorder itself, so there will be no help for it. As such, I have decided that I can no longer be in the face of the public.
Editor, Student fees are always a topical issue on campus. What we fund and how we fund it are questions we are often asked. The current controversy surrounding student fee support to the inaugural “Sex Week” has started an important conversation at perhaps the best possible time. For those in disagreement with the choice to use student fees to facilitate student services like risqué sexual health seminars, this is the perfect opportunity to let your voice be heard. For those in support, this is also the opportunity to advocate.
Editor, If you have been following the news, you know that the U.S. Supreme Court may choose to hear one of the many cases regarding homosexual marriage.
Editor, The recent front-page article highlighting the rise of historical paganism and shamanistic folk religion, “Fall’s pagan pride festival fills pantry”, precisely demonstrates the decline of intellectualism in Western society.
Editor, Albuquerque Is really trying to put the big boy shoes on when it comes to opening up alternative forms of transit around the city.
Solutions by The State News
