Plain Talk About Sexuality


by Michelle Johnson

Due to the inherent content of this human sexuality course, 
much of the material will be sexually explicit.

This statement is printed just below the welcome on Corly 
Petersen's HDFS 276 course syllabus. The syllabus goes on to 
list topics that would make most blush, but you won't hear 
any snickering from the balcony in her class -- she won't 
tolerate it.

"The students have a responsibility to themselves and others 
to respect the diverse views and beliefs covered in class, as 
do I," said Petersen, associate professor of human 
development and family studies. "There must be mutual respect 
for personal boundaries. I convey those expectations at our 
first meeting. The majority of students take this subject 
very seriously."

Case in point--enrollment for the course has grown to more 
than 300 students, with a waiting list. The course draws 
students from a wide variety of majors. It also pulls in a 
higher percentage of minority students (14 percent) and males 
(39 percent) than most courses in the College of Family and 
Consumer Sciences.

"This isn't a course where we get together and just talk 
about sex," Petersen said. "A large part of human sexuality 
relates to communication, values, intimacy, power and 
respect. The students are receiving comprehensive, reliable 
information. 

"They are hungry for knowledge in this area. While the 
decisions they make today regarding their sexual behaviors 
are still morality-based, those decisions can carry deadly 
consequences. Students need to be accurately informed."

That need is what motivated Petersen to volunteer to teach 
human sexuality four years ago. Through innovative teaching 
techniques, she addresses highly sensitive topics and 
actively engages students in problem-solving.

A question-and-comment box enables students anonymously to 
bring up issues that then are covered in class lectures. A 
student representatives group meets regularly with Petersen 
and graduate assistants to debate the relevance and 
appropriateness of content and presentation methods. 
Interactive class assignments and a workbook personalize the 
material.

Recent guest speakers in the class have included a local 
medical doctor, students for the responsible use of alcohol, 
members of the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities and 
people who have AIDS.

"Human sexuality is an essential part of human development, 
and sadly, society is not open when talking about that 
particular element," Petersen said. 

"Students are exposed to gratuitous sex in the commercial 
realm all the time, but for some reason, we find it difficult 
to answer their honest questions in a straightforward 
manner."

Petersen said that when she started teaching the course, she 
was nervous, and a little skeptical, about how to discuss 
volatile issues appropriately with such a large audience. 

"I walk a fine line each time I get up in front of this 
class," Petersen said. "My biggest goal is to have students 
be accurately informed so that they can experience their 
sexuality in a positive and responsible manner throughout 
their lives. But I strive to be respectful of a wide range of 
religious, family and cultural orientations. It's a 
challenge."

That's why she devotes much of her time outside class to 
researching and updating information. The public is exposed 
to new, useful information on issues like sexual orientation, 
sexually transmitted diseases and gender identity almost 
daily, Petersen said.

Great strides have been made, but there is room for 
improvement in educating students of all ages about human 
sexuality, she said. The degree to which students are 
educated about sexuality varies with each and every school 
district and learning institution, she added.

When she was co-authoring a high school textbook on human 
development eight years ago, Petersen remembers that editors 
were careful to include every element of child development 
and birth, except the actual conception. Yet teen pregnancy 
is a national problem. 

"By providing students with comprehensive information in this 
class, I hopefully start a chain reaction," she said. "They 
are then able to fulfill their roles as adult educators who 
share accurate sexuality information with their peers and, 
most importantly, their own families. It is really quite 
gratifying to be a part of that."

_____
contact:  News Service, (515) 294-3720
updated:  4-6-95