A Trend: Colleges' Pervy Prying As A Condition Of Registering For Classes
Susan Kruth writes at theFIRE.org:
Back in September, I wrote ... about a Title IX training program for students developed by CampusClarity and adopted by nearly 200 colleges and universities nationwide that included questions about the details of students' sex lives. Clemson University, where the program was mandatory, suspended its program soon after students and media outlets objected to this invasion of privacy. Now students at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) are speaking out against the same survey, which they must complete before registering for classes.WPTV (West Palm Beach, Fla.) relayed some of the questions included in the survey:
•How many times have you had sex (including oral) in the last three months?
•With how many different people have you had sex (including oral) in the last three months?
•If you had sex (including oral) in the last three months, how many times had you used a condom?As a spokesperson for FAU noted, colleges and universities are required by the reauthorized Violence Against Women Act to offer sexual assault prevention training to students. But universities' legal obligation to offer training does not mean that they must require such training, let alone this kind of breathtakingly intrusive questioning.
FAU student Cheryl Soley voiced her objection to the survey, saying, "I just don't understand why questions pertaining to how many times I've had sex have anything to do with campus life." Indeed, if CampusClarity and FAU can't come up with a better way to combat sexual assault than by forcing students to divulge their (lawful) sexual interactions, they need to work harder. Soley isn't alone in feeling uncomfortable with the questions--FAU spokesperson Joshua Glanzer told WPTV that approximately 80 students expressed concerns.
A spokesman for CampusClarity told Campus Reform that next year, the program will include a "decline to state" option with these questions, and that institutions can already request this option. All colleges and universities using this program should do so immediately so that students are not forced to choose between maintaining their privacy and enrolling in classes.
Which country is it that has virginity tests for women that want to join it's police force? Coming next to American colleges. It doesn't matter if the cute women are virgins, it's all about the fun of checking.
That the feds think such programs are a good idea, well, they're bureaucrats; we don't really expect higher brain functions. But what sort of college administration would actually submit their potential students to this? If nothing else, it is surely bad for business.
Most importantly, what sort of potential student doesn't have the balls - or ovaries - to tell the college to stuff it where the sun don't shine? Why would anyone put up with this?
a_random_guy at November 19, 2014 11:27 PM
well, they're bureaucrats
There is something about bureaucracies and public office: they attract a certain kind of person; and once there, they dream up and expect others to implement these schemes.
Maybe it is time for a draft to fill these slots. Or eliminate them completely.
doombuggy at November 20, 2014 2:59 AM
There is a point where you tell the bureaucrat "No" very firmly. If they want to know about my sex life, they can spend the time and resources to actually monitor me 24/7/365. I probably would use the phrase "I decline to answer these questions to protect my 5th Amendment rights." Just to see the freak out.
spqr2008 at November 20, 2014 5:23 AM
spqr2008, too many words. I prefer a more laconic reply: fuck no.
I R A Darth Aggie at November 20, 2014 6:28 AM
How else can these geeky administrators get their jollies if not by being titillated through the sexual activity of others.
Jay at November 20, 2014 7:13 AM
I am stunned.
Thank you Amy, for telling us that this goes on.
It's hard to gear up to tell them to stuff it, if it's dropped on them by surprise. Or if they're already stressed about the application process and just want to get in - at that point I can see just shutting down and jumping through that hoop, even if they're reluctant to do so.
It seems like a simple case of civil disobedience would work here. If everybody knew collectively that this was happening, and knew to answer 500 to every question, it'd shut down the "survey".
flbeachmom at November 20, 2014 8:31 AM
"Nunya Bidness"
Sio at November 20, 2014 11:14 AM
Q: How many people have you has sex with in the last six months?
A: At a time?
Steve Daniels at November 20, 2014 11:44 AM
@FLBeachMom: It's hard to gear up to tell them to stuff it, if it's dropped on them by surprise. Or if they're already stressed about the application process and just want to get in - at that point I can see just shutting down and jumping through that hoop, even if they're reluctant to do so.
I think that's a good point, FL. The excerpt from the article says that the students must complete the survey before registering for classes. That means the students have already been admitted. Think about that for a minute. Now, I don't know how coveted a slot at FAU is, but for high school kids, an admittance letter is a source of relief and joy after months of work, sweat, and worry. And now they're presented with one more hoop to jump through, and an intrusive and embarrassing one besides? What are they going to do, say "no, I won't go to FAU because of this survey," or just roll over and do it?
What this survey reminds me of, as much as anything else, is hazing. If kids want to be hazed, well, that's what Greek life is for. And you don't have to go Greek if you don't want to.
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at November 20, 2014 1:24 PM
Of course I'd just answer them bizarrely.
•How many times have you had sex (including oral) in the last three months?
0 times
•With how many different people have you had sex (including oral) in the last three months?
7 1/2 (mermaids count as 1/2 right?)
•If you had sex (including oral) in the last three months, how many times had you used a condom?
250
Just convince others to put down the same nonsense answers.
Joe j at November 21, 2014 7:37 AM
Joe, I was thinking along the same lines... lie outrageously. "I have sex eight times a day, all with different partners!" Poison the data.
Cousin Dave at November 21, 2014 11:33 AM
Leave a comment