“We are all more normal and similar to each other than we think we are.” These were the reassuring words of Dr. Anne Shenk as she opened the sex education convocation Sept. 30. 

This was the first convo of its kind held at Goshen College, at least as far as Patty Hartshorn, Director for Health and Wellness and Title IX Coordinator, is aware. “Information helps people make choices that are right for them. It reduces the chance that individuals will be pressured into sexual activity before they feel ready or because they lack knowledge,” Hartshorn said. 

The presenters at the convo were representatives from Goshen Family Physicians, and Health Plus Indiana. Both organizations have a preexisting partnership with GC. Shenk, an employee of Goshen Family Physicians, has spoken at GC before on a variety of health related topics. 

Health Plus Indiana has a kiosk located in the Student Life suite that students can utilize if they need sexual health care. They also provide sexually transmitted infections testing monthly outside of Westlawn Dining Hall. 

A plethora of snacks were offered, as well as several varieties of condoms: standard, flavored and hypoallergenic. 

A common theme of the evening was normalizing sexual questions and uncertainties. With statistics showing that 40-50% of college students are sexually active, there is a blend of experience present on every campus. 

Shenk emphasized the relationship between partners is critical for an overall good experience. “Trust, respect, communication and lubrication all increase satisfaction,” Shenk said. 

The Health Plus Indiana presenters shared much more in depth about how to avoid and treat STIs, such as herpes and HIV. They also brought silicon penises and a silicon vagina to demonstrate how to properly put on male and female condoms. 

They also weren’t afraid to make a few jokes, trying to keep the environment as comfortable as possible for students to ask questions. When discussing condoms, they even made a speeding joke, as they claimed that semen leaves the penis at around 35 mph: “Don’t ejaculate in a school zone, you’ll get a ticket!”

Hartshorn described them as “engaging, a little entertaining, and passionate about ensuring that individuals have the necessary resources to live healthy lives”

Despite their more cavalier attitude, they summarized their portion of the presentation with a more poignant reflection: “We are all people, we all deserve care — when we take care of everyone’s health and wellness then we can focus on everything else.”

After the presentations were over, there was a time of student questions to be answered by the presenters. In total there were 45 questions submitted by the students in attendance. These included questions such as:

“How do I make sex less awkward?”

“Do you have to boil silicone toys to get them properly clean?”

“Is herpes transmission different for men and women?”

“How long does it take to know you are pregnant?”

“Is it better to use an expired condom or to not use one at all?”

All the student questions received answers, often both from the medical perspective and from a more social one. 

Hartshorn hopes to make the event biennial, switching every year between a sexual education convo and the convo on alcohol and substance use. 

For her, one main take away from the inaugural presentation was “No one should feel judged or made to feel embarrassed about learning more about their body or their sexual health.”

Though students are at a variety of places in their journey with their sexuality and sexual health, Hartshorn assured them that there is always a safe space for them in the health and wellness office. 

Hartshorn said, “The hope is that students feel as though they have helpful information that ensures they are making these decisions based on what they believe for themselves, not based on what others believe for them.”