Things appear to have changed a bit since I attended Northwestern. Prof. John Michael Bailey gave his students an optional demonstration as part of his “Human Sexuality” class with a naked couple having sex in his class.
Over 100 students watched as a man used a sex toy on a woman in the class. The woman told reporters that she agreed to speak with the students as a member of the “fetish community” but was happy to serve as the focus of a demonstration in the aptly named Ryan Family Auditorium.
If there is any consistency in students, I hope at least one student ask “is this going to be on the test?”
It might also be a good idea for faculty to try not to follow Professor Bailey on the schedule for the classroom.
In fairness to the professor, he has roughly 600 students and did not require attendance at the demonstration. Moreover, Professor Bailey did not originate the idea.
However, a student was quoted as saying that “We were told we were going to have some people talk to us about the fetish world and kink.”
The University stood by its professor as a matter of academic freedom. Alan K. Cubbage, vice president for University Relations, stated “Northwestern University faculty members engage in teaching and research on a wide variety of topics, some of them controversial and at the leading edge of their respective disciplines. The University supports the efforts of its faculty to further the advancement of knowledge.”
The class was narrated by Ken Melvoin-Berg, who was paid $300 to $500 for his appearance. Payments for such displays could raise legal issues, particularly if the woman was paid. There is no indication that Faith Knoll, 25, was paid. Indeed the change to a live demonstration was not unwelcomed by Knoll or her partner Jim Marcus, 45: Knoll’s particular fetish is “being in front of people, having the attention and being used.” She used the live demonstration to prove that female orgasm is real — a point that one would think could be accepted without a live demonstration.
Bailey insists that his students are not “fragile children” but grown ups studying sexuality.
For my part, I just feel entirely deflated. I have been nervous about introducing new handouts in class on legal doctrines in tort. Now I feel much less of a rebel.
Source: Sun-Times
Jonathan Turley
So rattling tables with your hand to get the kids’ attention gets you fired, but bringing in a couple to “rattle the table” (which is sure to get their attention) gets you defended on academic freedom grounds? I think I’d prefer teaching college over teaching high school, but at least those high school teachers have unions to fight for their rights, right? Oh, wait.
EC! Hey there, stranger. I was starting to wonder if the tiara police had nabbed you.
AY – Head Master…. snort!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/?watchId=ccfa5d97-e923-4e9e-842d-f533a53555fb
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-northwestern-president-criticizes-sextoy-demonstration-20110303,0,3394045.story
Buddha,
I am waiting for the professor to install a pole in his classroom for next week’s assignment.
Would you refer to the person professing this subject as Head Master or Top Phallic….. or do you think that this is too much to insert in the syllabus…
Then my mind wonders how would you protect a syllabus….. Would it be plastic coated…..
How would you go about sharing class notes if you miss for some reason….. Would missing a period be cause for concern to a student taking the class…..
How would performance be measured….. If you missed a written exam could you take an oral exam…..
Doh, should have been “college doesn’t have”.
Cursed flu meds.
“I didn’t expect to see a live sex show,” said Justin Smith, 21, a senior economics and political science major who was in the after-class session. “We were told we were going to have some people talk to us about the fetish world and kink.”
Well there Justin, you’ve just had a fine example of actions speaking stickier, er, wetter, um, louder than words.
And to think that, unlike most places you’d pay to see something like that, law school doesn’t have (an official) two drink minimum policy.
Bob,Esq.,
“I think Professor Bailey needs a sabbatical. Maybe at a Motel 6.”
LOL!
Or maybe at Hotel California!
*****
Mike S.,
“…i’ve got no real problem with the demonstration as long as the students were informed of what was to take place and had the option of abscence.’
The students were not informed that there would be a live sex act demonstration. I will admit that I DO have a problem with a live sex act demonstration in a college auditorium.
*****
From the Sun-Times article:
“The optional, non-credit demo followed psychology Prof. John Michael Bailey’s sexuality class. Nearly 600 students are in Bailey’s class this quarter, and most didn’t stick around for the after-class show, which featured four members of Chicago’s fetish community describing “BDSM,” or bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.
“I didn’t expect to see a live sex show,” said Justin Smith, 21, a senior economics and political science major who was in the after-class session. “We were told we were going to have some people talk to us about the fetish world and kink.”
Congressman Holt is a Carleton College graduate.
Elaine,
That would be one hell of a syllabus!
SL:
“TS was Disneyfied and took all the fun out of it.”
Thanks to Rudy!!
eniobob,
Back in the day my friends and I would hope on MetroNorth and head to Times Square for the sheer joy it was – it was THE place for people watching. Then, TS was Disneyfied and took all the fun out of it.
BTW:
Still waiting for one of our State Representatives to get his due on the blawg for beating the computer.
In “Jeopardy” contest, Rep. Rush Holt beats Watson, the IBM computer
Published: Wednesday, March 02, 2011, 10:01 AM Updated: Wednesday, March 02, 2011, 10:07 AM
By Hunterdon County Democrat
Rush Holt
In an exhibition “Jeopardy!” game in held Washington on Monday, Congressman Rush Holt faced IBM’s Watson computer — and won.
Holt was on a team of five congressmen who competed against the computer. Although the team lost, Holt won his round against the machine, earning $8,600 to Watson’s $6,200 in the classic trivia game.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2011/03/in_jeopardy_game_rep_rush_holt.html
Since we are talking education:=)
Before they **cleaned up ** times square in New York,this was a 24/7 happening in time square adult theaters.The New York papers would rail about this stuff that was going on there.
But like I always say the one who rails the most probably had front row seats.
I just found a list of the other courses Prof. Bailey teaches.
Undergraduate Courses:
– Fetishes for Freshmen
– S & M for Sophomores
– Bestiality for Beginners for Juniors
– Ménage à Trois…and More for Seniors
Graduate Courses:
– Advanced Dominatrix Studies
– Nascent Necrophilia
And each course comes with its own X-rated syllabus!
😉
Bob,
Didn’t remember that. I think I should re-read my Burroughs. The breadth of knowledge on this site is amazing and fun.
I think also that Rich has the right take on this guy, though i’ve got no real problem with the demonstration as long as the students were informed of what was to take place and had the option of abscence.
I am having a very bad spelling day! demonstration, there I can spell it correctly!!
Blouise,
Lol – That would be fun!
eniobob,
Further evidence that great minds think alike 😉