Challenging the Script: Sexuality on College Campuses
When the term “sexuality” is used in connection with student culture, images might come to mind that focus on the "sex" in sexuality. InterMission asked Catherine Brunell what she had learned about student sexual culture from her years working as a campus minister at BC. “I think if we bring in the word ‘relationships’ or ask ‘what does intimacy mean?’ or ‘what is essential for a person to have interdependence with another person? Is that a value? Why is that a value for us?’”
When sexuality is understood in this holistic manner,
suddenly the focus of the discussions turns from images of guilt and finger-wagging, to how best to promote authentic relationships between human beings. Boston College, and many universities across the nation, are attempting to recast approaches to the “hook-up culture” not in terms of sex, but in terms of building relationships and understanding between persons.
Tim Muldoon, a professor in the Honors Program, notes, “The issue isn’t sex; there just seems to be a real fear or lack of skill, and very often both, in even knowing what are legitimate expectations in relationships, friendships even.” The larger, more important question seems to be: is the current script for relationships helping students achieve happiness?
Unfortunately, the incomplete view of sexuality dominates most university cultures, severely limiting the dialogue and understanding that can be brought to bear on these questions and experiences. At BC a conversation began two years ago among a number of administrators and faculty searching for a broader and deeper concept of sexuality. While still in an early stage, the initiative has gathered the threads of many dialogues happening across campus into a whole that seeks to involve the entire Boston College community in an attempt to understand and engage the reality of our students' lives by challenging the current script.
Muldoon says, “It’s really a matter of breaking your own preconceptions and understanding the situation.” The seminar is in the process of developing resources and will be in dialogue with the BC community about the outcomes. Meanwhile, there are several books and articles that the people interested in this subject nation-wide have found helpful and reorienting. Unprotected, by Dr. Miriam Grossman, is a powerful and timely study of the situations students experience on college campuses. Hooked, by Drs. Freda McKissic-Bush and Joe McIlhaney, approaches the topic of sexuality from the view of medicine and science. Over the past few months, BC’s own Heights has had several articles reporting campus conversations on these topics: Panel on Sexual Health, Panel Talks Sexuality, Mixed Messages Shape BC’s Sexual Politics.
While understanding provides the basis for any kind of dialogue, without personal relationships between faculty, administrators, and students, the entire effort may well die. Brunell emphasizes, “college is such a rich and powerful learning experience we don’t want to miss a single opportunity. If you have all hands on deck, you have more of a chance to engage students in every aspect of their lives.”
April 2009
In This Issue
Office of the Vice President of Mission and Ministry
Mission and Ministry Website Home
Boston College Office of the Vice President for University Mission and Ministry, Joyce House, 31 Lawrence Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3961
www.bc.edu/offices/mission/ | 617.552.1603