Johnnies are welcome and encouraged to attend IWL events

The Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) held a series of events to recognize and celebrate Women’s History Month in March. We are very happy to report that Women’s Month was a hit, and the IWL’s hard work paid off.

The events ranged from a variety of topics including women in policymaking and a Bennie Leadership Panel. On March 24, Nadya Okamoto, founder of the sustainable period company August came to campus to discuss period poverty and her efforts to destigmatize menstruation.

However, the event we want to concentrate on specifically was titled “Sex, Milk, and Cookies.”

This two-part series, hosted in the Multicultural Center, focused on the topic of sex and healthy consent. Rebecca Kotz, the Gender Violence Prevention Coordinator at St. Cloud State University, discussed topics including affirmative consent, sexual coercion, boundaries and assertive communication.

Kotz urged the crowd to answer questions people deem “uncomfortable,” such as, “what is consent, and how can it be given?” and “what are healthy ways to communicate your sexual preferences with a partner?”

The following week Kotz returned to discuss the orgasm gap, the impact of sexual trauma and examine cultural messaging about sex and gender roles. Kotz asked the question: “Did you know that three out of four women said they can’t achieve orgasm during sex?”

The events were well-received, and we believe we speak for all attendees when we say we left feeling more knowledgeable on topics concerning sex.

However, we also left the event feeling upset and disappointed. Among the attendees, there was not a single Johnnie present. At an event discussing consent and safe sex, there was not a single Johnnie present.

Especially in the context of the Pat Hall incident that took place last semester, it was disheartening to see. The Pat Hall incident shocked the student body, faculty and staff. Hundreds of students attended the Oct. 21 protest to call for change following reports of the sex competition.

While affirmative consent and healthy sex are important for everyone to review, why did only Bennies show up to this event? Was the topic “too taboo” to discuss? Is examining the topic of sex in a room full of peers embarrassing? Was the bus ride too much of a burden to take over? Were students simply unaware the event was taking place? The reasons for zero Johnnie attendance go on.

The IWL’s mission is to empower Bennies to become local and global leaders by engaging in inclusive dialogue, reflective thinking and value-based leadership that celebrates and recognizes women as shapers of our world. We seek to provide a forum where Bennies in this community of learners can explore and articulate their personal and professional aspirations to lead and transform communities in ways that allow all to reach their fullest potential.

While our programming caters towards Bennies, Johnnies are welcome and encouraged to attend IWL events. The spaces we fill emphasize acceptance and inclusion. To succeed as an organization, we require a diversity of voices—and that includes Johnnies’ voices.

More so than that, it is crucial for Johnnies to listen to Bennie voices. Johnnies must listen and understand their points of concern and consider the solutions they bring to the table.

If we host an event regarding safe sex, come to the event. Attending IWL events is an easy, beneficial way to understand the concerns infiltrating Bennies’ minds and an opportunity to participate in open conversation regarding Bennies’ issues. Attendance and participation are the only ways we can expect to make changes on our campuses.

We hope to see you all at the upcoming IWL events, as well as our approaching fall programs.