Correction (April 22 12:16 a.m.): Due to a reporting error, this incorrectly describes how the session broke into smaller groups. The audience was divided among males, females and those who preferred not to divide by gender. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
On Tuesday night and for the third year in a row, all 500 seats in the Student Union’s Great Hall were filled for “I Love Female Orgasm.”
The event featured sex educators Marshall Miller and Jocelyn Benson speaking to students about the myths of female orgasms and how to achieve one. Union administrators estimated more than 100 students were turned away due to fire safety standards and seating restrictions.
I Love Female Orgasm first came to UNC in 2008, when Miller was one of the speakers. This year was Benson’s first speaking at UNC.
“I think this was such a great and welcoming place,” Benson said. “There was such a great energy, and it makes it easy to be a speaker on stage.”
The event was sponsored by Project Dinah, a student organization that promotes women’s safety and empowerment on campus and in the community.
“We want to give people information about female sexuality because its often ignored, or there are certain views about what sexuality is supposed to be,” co-chairwoman Sara Isaacson said.
Along with a large group discussion, the session broke into smaller groups of males, females and those who identified as transgendered. Students were encouraged to share their own experiences and opinions in the small group setting.
“I thought it was funny and entertaining, and they brought up a lot of real, true concerns of women in a comfortable and safe environment,” said Tara Fiscella, a graduate student.
Women were not the only ones who benefited from the lecture. Freshman Aaron Olson was encouraged by his friends to come, and he said he was glad he did.
“It was interesting and enlightening, and I feel like I have more knowledge,” Olson said.
While some, like Fiscella, were surprised by the large number of male attendees, others were not.
“If I was a guy, I would want to learn, too,” freshman Morgan Koder said. “It is kind of a mystery land down there for guys.”
Some male audience members might have gotten more than they were expecting — two won vibrators in a sex toy raffle.
The event was funded by Student Congress and the UNC Residence Hall Association. But when the program first came to UNC in 2008, it was not funded by Student Congress.
“The 91st session of Congress, which was last year, decided to fund it because we thought it was a worthwhile program,” Student Body Treasurer Dakota Williams said.
Project Dinah leaders said they hope to bring the program back next year if it receives funding, Isaacson said.
“I think they should have more events like this and let more people in,” Fiscella said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
