SHAG’s “Sex Week” Commences Today

SHAG’s “Sex Week” Commences Today
The annual event kicks off with a theme of “You do you!”

[Sex Week Announcement Post, Source: SHAG Instagram]

This week, the Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG) will host its annual Sex Week, a week of sex-related activities and seminars for students. Sex Week is thematic, and this year’s theme is “You do you.”

Events kick off on Monday, November 6, 2023, with “I Love the Female Orgasm,” a keynote event that has featured in previous sex weeks. The program, produced by an independent organization, “Sex Discussed Here!,” is designed to cater to “orgasm aficionados and beginners of all genders,” according to their website. The talk is sponsored by SHAG, (SPEAK), Washington & Lee Health Promotion, and the Washington & Lee Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department.

In her monthly newsletter to the student body, Jan Kaufman, the W&L Director of Health Promotion stated in bold, “I LOVE THE FEMALE ORGASM – is a must.” She further described it as “[a] funny, educational program about sexuality and pleasure.  For all genders and identities.”

The Executive Committee of the Student Body annnounced last week that “the EC will not hold their weekly Business Meeting [on November 11] due to the ‘I Heart the Female Orgasm’ talk on Monday.”

Class Representative Walt Phillips, ‘25, further stated, “As the EC’s representative to the Healthy Sexual Culture Committee, I encourage everyone to attend next week’s SHAG events.”

[Advertisement for “I Love the Female Orgasm” sent to students, Source: Campus Well Email]

Tuesday will feature Project Horizon’s “Healing Your Inner Child Sex Education Activities.” Project Horizon is a local organization intended to combat domestic and sexual violence.

Wednesday will feature a “Movie Night.” The announcement did not share which movie will be played.

Thursday features a lecture from Dr. Angela Sun titled “Is It Okay to Lie to Get Someone into Bed? (And Other Questions on The Ethics of Consent).” Trivia Night will occur immediately after the lecture, which has historically included sex toy prizes.

After a week of activities, students can attend a “Sexy” themed Friday Night Underground (FUDG) celebration. Still not over, Sex Week will feature an “Aroace Student Panel” on Saturday. “Aroace” refers to those who are “asexual” and do not feel romantic attraction.

[I Love the Female Orgasm Promotion, Source: SHAG Instagram]

SHAG is a recognized student organization and receives funding from the Executive Committee. This year, SHAG received the 13th largest student organization budget allocation, at $7,250.

The Spectator reached out to SHAG for clarification on event contents as well as the overall goals of sex week but has yet to receive a response.

SHAG’s mission statement is to “improve the Washington and Lee University sexual culture by opening up a dialogue about sex and all that is sensual.”

“We work to create an inclusive campus environment that assists members of the Washington and Lee student body in developing an open form of communication with other members of the student body and with the administration and faculty about sex, consent, and sexual health,” a SHAG representative previously told The Spectator. “Our goal is to connect diverse individuals and communities both within and beyond W&L through common human experiences with love, sex, sexuality, and relationships,” they concluded.

Readers can stay tuned for event coverage in an upcoming edition.

[Sex Week Schedule, Source: Campus Well Email]