'Fosterotica' discusses sexuality

Sexually saturated but sexually illiterate.

This is the picture of American society Rita Cotterly, adjunct kinesiology professor, painted for participants of the first two nights of Fosterotica, a three-day candid discussion of sexuality.

Foster Hall started the Fosterotica program Tuesday night, which encouraged open discussion about sex, hall director of Foster Hall Libby Woolverton said.

In order to make responsible and moral decisions, Cotterly said youth must have information regarding sexuality. However, she said she thought America’s young adults were media nourished and information deprived.

Fosterotica aimed to replace myth with accurate information regarding sexuality, which was much more than a “sex talk,” Cotterly said. College was a time to make decisions, and students could not make decisions without being informed, she said.

Woolverton said, “We want for students to walk away saying, ‘whatever decision I’ve made in my life I can be okay with that and I know more about it than I did before I first came.’”

Statistically, the United States is the international leader for unwanted pregnancy, teenage pregnancy and domestic violence, she said.

According to a report published by the American Public Health Association, the government funded abstinence-only curricula contain misleading and false information about items such as the effectiveness of contraceptives and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Cotterly said students were familiar with sex through pornography, hormones and magazines, but rarely knew the meaning of sex.

Kee-Kee Jackson, a sophomore social work major, said many students, particularly new students, had a distorted perception of what a sex life should be at college. Fosterotica dispelled Hollywood notions about sexuality with facts and precautions, she said.

After Cotterly presented her message she then opened the floor for questions. Students could write down and submit questions anonymously.

Samantha Schulien, a sophomore nursing major, said Cotterly created an open environment and knew how to roll with the punches even when students tried to be inappropriate.

Woolverton said students laughed at appropriate times but were respectful of each other.