SexPo provides safe space to talk about uncomfortable topics
September 14, 2018
Last Friday, the Tinkham Veale University Center ballroom showcased a side it does not usually make public. For four hours, the ballroom played host to SexPo, the annual conference dedicated to breaking down barriers to discussion about health, sexuality and other related topics.
SexPo is typically popular in terms of both attendees and event staff, and this year proved no exception. Not only was the event highly attended, SexPo committee member and fourth-year student Alex Marshall said nearly one-fifth of the University attended, it was also effective in its mission.
Third-year student Sydney Washing, who worked a booth at SexPo with the organization PERIOD @ CWRU, described her table’s positive experience at the event.
“SexPo overall went extremely well,” she said. “So many people, menstruators and non-menstruators included, came to our table to play PERIOD Jeopardy and learn about periods. It was great to see so many people openly talking about a subject that’s often perceived as dirty and seeing them actually learn the facts about periods rather than the myths and stigmas.”
While the event is held on an annual basis, it can still be intimidating to walk in. After all, Case Western Reserve University’s every-day does not typically include a large stack of dildos and BDSM whips casually placed on tables in the middle of very public space.
SexPo attendee and third-year engineering physics major Matt Mitrovich admitted that he did not feel incredibly comfortable upon walking into the ballroom.
“Walking in, I felt a little uncomfortable because I had never been there before so I didn’t really know what to expect, and I think without friends it would’ve been a little too intimidating,” said Mirovich. “I stayed and walked around, however, everybody just seemed comfortable, especially [the people] running tables, and that just made me relax and I was able to learn some stuff.”
Event organizer and third-year student Sabrina Santander was also happy with the way the event turned out.
Santander said that she was in charge of food which gave her the opportunity to gauge the room. She reported that attendance was high, not just with undergraduate students, but with graduate students as well, describing the diversity in attendance as exciting.
