2008 Woodie Awards
Abstinence thrives in a sexualized culture
Alexandra Prim
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Perspectives
Are you having sex? The typical college student would assume that other typical college students would answer "yes." But he or she might be very surprised. Last week, the New York Times Magazine published an article by Randall Patterson that spotlighted Harvard University among other Ivy League institutions for their prominent abstinence group on campus.
The highly-publicized Times Magazine article looked at Harvard's True Love Revolution group, and Princeton's and MIT's Anscombe Societies, named after Catholic thinker Elizabeth Anscombe. The organizations at each respective school differ on many smaller points, but they are all firm on supporting one main cause: abstinence until marriage.
"Yes, I do feel that it is an option for college students to stay virgins," said Sacred Heart sophomore Carrington Gerli. "I was dating a girl for four years and we both believed in abstinence so we kept it that way and didn't have sex. But we still loved every moment with one another."
Gerli's assertion has been supported by other Sacred Heart students in addition to many who are studying at East Coast Ivy League schools. According to Patterson in the Times Magazine article, "many college students today grew up with abstinence classes and clubs in their communities, and so the movement has raised a generation of activists."
While the New York Times Magazine article does not take a stance on sexual activity or lack thereof, among college students in the U.S., it has spurred responses and conversation at other universities. Cornell University's newspaper, the Daily Sun, published a vocal opinion article called "Celibate for the Hell of It" in its column by Jenna B. that advocates the belief that "sluts are sluts" and "there is no choice more personal than that of what you put into your own body."
"Your sexual habits represent a lifestyle choice," said Jenna B. "[It is] a preference that affects nobody but you and, if applicable, your romantic partner. While Jenna B. made her opinion heard in the Cornell paper, the abstinence discussion affects students at every college, including Sacred Heart.
The highly-publicized Times Magazine article looked at Harvard's True Love Revolution group, and Princeton's and MIT's Anscombe Societies, named after Catholic thinker Elizabeth Anscombe. The organizations at each respective school differ on many smaller points, but they are all firm on supporting one main cause: abstinence until marriage.
"Yes, I do feel that it is an option for college students to stay virgins," said Sacred Heart sophomore Carrington Gerli. "I was dating a girl for four years and we both believed in abstinence so we kept it that way and didn't have sex. But we still loved every moment with one another."
Gerli's assertion has been supported by other Sacred Heart students in addition to many who are studying at East Coast Ivy League schools. According to Patterson in the Times Magazine article, "many college students today grew up with abstinence classes and clubs in their communities, and so the movement has raised a generation of activists."
While the New York Times Magazine article does not take a stance on sexual activity or lack thereof, among college students in the U.S., it has spurred responses and conversation at other universities. Cornell University's newspaper, the Daily Sun, published a vocal opinion article called "Celibate for the Hell of It" in its column by Jenna B. that advocates the belief that "sluts are sluts" and "there is no choice more personal than that of what you put into your own body."
"Your sexual habits represent a lifestyle choice," said Jenna B. "[It is] a preference that affects nobody but you and, if applicable, your romantic partner. While Jenna B. made her opinion heard in the Cornell paper, the abstinence discussion affects students at every college, including Sacred Heart.
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