| Safer Sex Night is an annual event held in late October and organized by the SIC with the purpose of educating the student population of Oberlin about safer sex in a fun atmosphere. Usually held shortly before Halloween, Safer Sex Night takes place in the basement of Wilder, the student union, and features demonstrations and workshops on various topics related to safer sex such as safer oral sex, sex toys 101, and proper use of safer sex supplies. Educational posters cover the walls and educational videos (with an erotic twist!) are shown on VCRs during the event. Staff members are available all night to answer questions. Over 4,000 condoms, dental dams, and lube packets are distributed. Students can dance in the ‘Sco during the whole event, and many students choose to dress up (or down, as the case may be). Tickets are usually $2, and are available only to students who are over 18, given the nature of the event.
Safer Sex Night began in the 1980s when the AIDS crisis became a concern, and some students felt a lack of response on campus in recognizing the impact. Chris Baymiller, associate director of the student union, and SIC advisor, came up with the idea of an in-your-face, multimedia event to educate students about the very real dangers of not practicing safer sex. Safer Sex Night quickly became an Oberlin institution and is often mentioned in literature about Oberlin as one of our “claims to fame.”
In 2004, Oberlin’s administration expressed desire for the format of Safer Sex Night to be changed to bring the event more in line with “education” rather than “party.” We at SIC feel that part of what makes SSN (and Oberlin!) unique is its ability to educate through a more non-traditional format. We at SIC remain committed to the spirit of safer sex night - one of open dialogue and empowerment of sexuality through self-education, all while having fun. However, we recognize that focusing Safer Sex Night on more education is always an admirable goal and we continue to look for ways to improve the event. Please feel free to send us suggestions or comments.
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