The University of Connecticut’s Sexperts, a sexual health and wellness education program, held a craft night centered around sex positivity at Wilson Hall on April 28. There will be another craft night run by the Sexperts at the same location on May 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Entering the room, there were multiple tables with people making assorted crafts of their own with two Sexperts and a faculty member. On one of the tables was a bracelet that said “Yes daddy” on it.
The organizers put on a playlist with sex-positive songs dedicated to Sexpert events while attendees could make arts and craft projects. They had several types of beads in different letters and colors, magazines and collage images for vision boards, lots of stickers (including some of Dwight from “The Office”), yarn, twine, construction paper and canvases. The goal was to make a reassuring and affirming community space that destigmatizes conversation about sex and sexual health.
There was a sign with craft ideas such as crocheted amigurumi, bead bracelets, embroideries and zines.
Program Manager of Sexual Health and Peer Education Initiatives Cassy Setzler, said in an interview when asked why her job is important for college students within her 10 years of working in her role, “It’s important to have conversations about sexual health with young people.” She continued, “I like to be able to guide those conversations and help them learn more about their bodies.”
When asked for future events run by the Sexperts, Setzler said “We have our annual Sexual Health and Wellness Fair.” They also have the “Condom-a-thon,” an educational program about teaching people how to put on condoms.
Riley Fields, a fourth-semester human development and family sciences student and a UConn Sexpert said in an interview, “We built a really great community with those I work with. It’s really welcoming and comforting.” She continued, “It’s been very rewarding to work with other students.”
When asked about her involvement with the Sexperts program, Fields said, “One thing I helped plan was the sex toy table at the sexual health and wellness fair in March. Planning that just included research about every sex toy we have and making sure we use gender-inclusive language and simple enough language so that people who are new to sex and sexual health can understand.”
Carmen Rebert, a fourth-semester molecular and cell biology student and UConn Sexpert said in an interview, “Before coming to UConn, I took a psychology of sexuality class at a different college and when I transferred, I heard from some friends talk about the Sexperts.”
When asked about her experience working with the Sexperts, she said “It’s been so awesome. I love the team so much. Our coordinator, Cassy, is so nice.” She continued, “Working with the Sexperts is so rewarding. Spreading more awareness and helping my peers is rewarding. Being here, I’m always learning something new every day.”
When asked what her and her friends made, Deborah, a second-semester political science student, said, “I made a bracelet.” She then lifted her wrist up and read what the bracelet said: “Cock and balls.” Deborah continued, “I also want to make one that says ‘bukkake.’” She pointed to her friend afterward and said “she made ‘lesbo’” referring to the bracelet worn by that individual. Someone else made a crochet condom. Deborah also wanted to make a bracelet that said “Ballmeister.”
That group of friends then started talking about that incident at a chess game where a player wearing a butt plug was caught cheating because the vibrations told him where to place the pieces among other things.
Destigmatizing sexual health is difficult with closed minds, but the Sexperts are promoting consensual and safe sex through education and programs such as this one. They have services to assist the sexual needs of the UConn community, such as the gloveBOX program that gives students boxes of free condoms when you sign up online.