College students now have a new way to make the grade — watch pornographic movies.
The universities of New York, Arizona State, Northwestern, Emerson College and several campuses in the California State system now offer courses where students analyze hard-core pornography. They even shoot their own explicit films to show in class.
It’s a new trend called “porn studies.”
However, one university has taken the study of porn too far.
The University of California at Berkeley suspended a male sexuality class last week after the campus newspaper published allegations that students watched their instructor have sex at a strip club and participate in an orgy at an extracurricular activity.
At a party held to introduce the students, some took Polaroid pictures of their genitals to show their bodies were not disgusting. During the field trip to the strip club, the students watched one of the student instructors have sex on stage.
The university’s Web site describes the male sexuality class as one, “intended to provide a safe environment in which men may learn about their own bodies and male sexuality.”
The courses were offered under the university’s “democratic education” or “de-cal” program, which are sponsored, but not funded by the university.
Some students at The University of Memphis don’t think porn should be a course taught to college students.
“I don’t think there is any reason to study porn,” said Ashley Walker, a freshman marketing management major. “I’m from Southaven, Mississippi and we’re a close-knit community and it would not be acceptable there. Universities shouldn’t support anything dealing with porn.”
The courses are organized and run by student instructors and can be taken for credit toward graduation. Other “de-cal” courses include “Blackjack,” where students are taught how to count cards, and “Copwatch,” where students learn how to, “safely and effectively assert their rights when interacting with police.”
The male sexuality course was worth two units, whereas a regular course is worth four or five units.
“In a way, porn is important,” said Anthony Jackson, a freshman biology major at The U of M. “It (porn) helps students learn about their body. However, I wouldn’t want my daughter in a class like that. There is a limit to it.”
De-cal courses must have a written course proposal, department chair approval and sponsorship by a faculty member. The campus’ Web site said the faculty chair sponsor is ultimately responsible for content and grades. The faculty chair had reviewed the course description for the male sexuality course, but was not provided with a detailed course syllabus.
“I would take the course if the U of M offered it,” said Masao Sakata, a senior accounting major. “Students don’t have to learn porn in college because most learn on their own. I would be very interested in taking the course.”
A similar female sexuality course is also under review. The female sexuality course curriculum is posted on the campus Web site. It includes porn star Nina Hartley as a guest speaker and, “a possible trip to a strip club.” Other topics in the female sexuality course are women’s health issues, violence against women and body image.
