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T BEHREND BEACON
Friday, December 2, 2005
Sex projects tackle unique and fascinating topics
By Tanya Doggwiler
staff writer
tadso 100 psu .edu
Sex, sexuality, sexual nature it doesn't matter!
Many college students are actively engaging in
sexual activity, and most are blind to the many
aspects of what sex really entails. Dr. Eric Corty's
Human Sexuality class presented data based
research posters on any and every topic on human
sexuality this past Wednesday in McGarvey
Commons. The topics ranged from abstinence to
sex toys and from polyamorous men and women
to the role of foot size in attractiveness.
What's the purpose of all the data based
research'? Dr. Corty had three main goals in
assigning this to his students. He said, "The
research gives the students a chance to become
familiar with information that benefits them.
Second, they gain experience in their communica
tion skills by having to know how to explain their
topic to other students and visitors. Finally, the
fact that all students are welcome to come and
learn about topics that affect them."
The thought of data-based research posters
sounds boring, and yet the Psych 402 class man
aged to create and come up with lively, intriguing
topics and posters that grasped and maintained the
attention of the audience. Each student had a vast
knowledge of their topic and was able to explain
the information that began as complicated to them
with ease and assurance to their peers.
Student David Daquelente's topic was College
Women Who Had Sexual Intercourse when They
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were Underage Minors (13-15): Age of their Male
Partners, Relation to Current Adjustment, and
Statutory Rape Implications. Just this title alone is
confusing, yet David explained the meaning and
message of his topic effectively. The topic, in
basic terms, means how many adolescent girls
ages 13-15 engaged in sexual intercourse with
partners from ages 13 to the statutory rape age of
18 or older and the effect on the girls some years
later at their current age of 18 or older. The statis
tics and outcomes of the research are astonishing
and each student chose topics that were informa
tive in many different ways.
Probably one of the most intriguing topics was
that of the role of foot size in attractiveness. The
students were urged to let their imagination go and
choose a topic that would grasp their interest and
that of others. Student Jenna Dominick did just
that. Her choice of topic, she says, was because "it
sounded interesting and who knew feet had to do
with anything."
Kacie Burns expressed her enjoyment of the
assignment by stating, "it was so much better than
doing a research paper. We weren't busy with
doing the actual research. We could take more
time to really get in depth with the information
and understand what we were reading about."
Dr. Cony was excited with the outcome of his
students projects and rightly so because the
posters and the students' attitude and professional
ism were tremendous.
Dave Baleno, who was observing the posters,
stated, "This is probably the most entertaining and
yet educational sex information display I've ever
Students deprived
By Anthony Cianciosi
staff writer
auc I 640 psu.cdu
Partying, late night cram sessions, extra curricular
activities and the occasional class thrown in is a typ
ical Penn State Behrend student's lifestyle. One
thing that you may not notice on this list is a good
night's rest. Sleep is usually the one thing college
students want but can never get. Sure you can doze
off during a professor's lengtl lecture or catch a
few zzz's on one of the lobby
sofas between classes, but the
truth of the matter is students
are not getting sleep where it
counts... in bed.
In a recent study, the
American Medical Association
found that the major problem
with sleep deprivation among
college students is that it can
have a severe effect on school
performance. The average
adult needs about seven and a
half to eight and a half hours of
sleep a night. The average col
lege student gets about half
that. Some of the ways that
lack of sleep can affect class
room performance are
increased forgetfulness, diffi
culty learning new lessons and
difficulty paying attention. The
two major issues are increased
forgetfulness and difficulty
paying attention. Having a late
night cram session before a big
exam may often cause more
harm than good. While you
may pick up a few extra pieces
of information, studies have
shown that students will spend
more time on questions that they would have previ
ously known the answer to had they been well rest
ed. When the brain is tired, it takes longer for it to
process even the simplest task.
David Belasco, a 7th semester Computer
Engineering student at Penn State Erie, said "I can
function pretty well on six to seven hours of sleep,
anything less than that will make my day drag on. I
have done all nighters before working on projects or
for a test the next day, and I last till just after the
project is handed in or the exam is done and then I
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
seen."
Sex and the knowledge that one should know
about it has a never ending and ever changing
Students present facts to familiarize people with new sex research in Dr. Corty's Psych 402 class
crash hard after that. Trying to pay attention in other
classes during that day is virtually impossible
because I can never pay attention." When asked
about the earliest time Belasco would schedule a
class for he said, "Nine in the morning is the earliest
I would schedule a class for unless I didn't have a
choice. It is very difficult to concentrate at eight in
the morning mainly because you are still trying to
wake up."
Heather Bupp, a Ist semester Elementary Education
- )r, also K she needs about six to seven hours
of sleep to function. "I pulled an all night cram ses
sion for a test once, and when I left the test, on top
of feeling really tired, I knew I didn't do well. When
I got the test back a few days later I noticed that
made a lot of little mistakes that I never would have
done if I actually had gotten sleep. I probably would
have done better just studying a little and getting
more sleep."
With finals coming up in a week, Penn State
Behrend students need to be aware of what the ben
efits of a good nights rest can do for them. To make
Vol. LIII No. 14
horizon that should be embraced not feared
because the information is there and all one has to
do is look, be aware and enjoy.
it easier On yourselves, budget your time and make a
list of the important things that you need to do and
when they are due, so you do not have to spend all
hours of the night playing catch up. Here are some
tips from SleepNet.com to help improve your skNp
ing habits:
Sleep is as important as food and air.
quality are very important. If you press the snooie
button on the alarm in the morning you are not get
ting enough sleep. This could be due to not enough
time in bed, external disturbances, or a sleep disor
der.
Keep regular hours. Try to go
to bed at the same time and gel
up at the same time every day.
Getting up at the same time is
most important. Getting bright
light, like the sun, when you get
up will also help. Try to go to
bed only when you are sleep y .
Bright light in the morning at a
regular time should help you
feel sleepy at the same time
every night.
Stay away from stimulants like
caffeine. This will help you get
deep sleep which is most
refreshing. If you take any caf
feine, take it in the morning.
Avoid all stimulants in the
evening, including chocolate,
caffeinated sodas, and caffeinat
ed teas. They will delay slop
and increase arousals during the
night.
Use the bed for sleeping. Avoid
watching TV or using laptop
computers. Know that reading
in bed can be a problem if the
material is very stimulation and
you read with a bright light. If it
helps to read before sleep make
sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read. A 15
watt bulb should be enough. Bright light from these
activities may inhibit sleep.
Avoid exercise near bedtime. No exercise at least
3 hours before bed.
Don't go to bed hungry. Have a light snack, avoid
a heavy meal before bed.
Know that the "night cap" has a price. Alcohol
may help you to get to sleep but it will cause you to
wake up throughout the night.