# USC insists students answer questions about the sexual encounters before they can take some course **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940 "2016-01-12T16:30:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/21 "2016-01-13T16:15:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > My students were VERY embarrassed to talk about sex. When I pulled a condom out of my purse and told them that every sexually active person should keep one on hand, they just about died. > > Dealing with sex in an adult way is a part of becoming an adult. Not everyone has to perform a passage of the Vagina Monologues or anything, but being able to engage in Frank discussion on consent, condom use, and related topics is a part of getting the skills you need to protect your sexual health. I agree; but that’s not what I interpreted this thread as being about. We’re not talking about college students being informed about sexual issues, or being able to talk about sexual issues; we’re talking about students talking about _their own personal sexual experiences (or lack thereof)_, to… well, it’s not clear who’s seeing the results of the survey. > [@](#): > > The vast, vast majority of college students (as in nearly all) are sexually active, and the majority have frolicked with multiple partners. But if you’re telling them this, I imagine the ones who aren’t having much or any sex, whether by choice or not, are going to feel like there’s something wrong with them; and many will be tempted to exaggerate or lie about how sexually active they are, in which case, how would you know that nearly all really are sexually active? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/22 "2016-01-13T17:21:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > …I imagine the ones who aren’t having much or any sex, whether by choice or not, are going to feel like there’s something wrong with them; and many will be tempted to exaggerate or lie about how sexually active they are, in which case, how would you know that nearly all really are sexually active? That claim seems to have been pulled from a nether orifice. According to the Guttmacher Institute, based on a survey released in 2014, 61% of 18-year-olds (college entry age) reported being sexually active, which is considerably less than “nearly all”. [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html](http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html) Note: the claim that USC “insists students answer questions about the (sic) sexual encounters before they can take some course” has also been revealed to be extracted from a nether orifice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/23 "2016-01-13T18:00:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I agree; but that’s not what I interpreted this thread as being about. We’re not talking about college students being informed about sexual issues, or being able to talk about sexual issues; we’re talking about students talking about _their own personal sexual experiences (or lack thereof)_, to… well, it’s not clear who’s seeing the results of the survey. And when they do read them I wonder, does it involve their hand and a bottle of lube? Why are college professors so damn interested in students sex lives? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/24 "2016-01-13T18:01:43Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > USC is not an unbiased source either, though. Without seeing the questionnaire, we can’t judge whether those questions were communicated as optional or if the university is backfilling in response to criticism. What they said was “We are sorry we got caught”. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/25 "2016-01-13T18:12:27Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Why are college professors so damn interested in students sex lives? Calling this a “course” made it sound like this was a college class, but the further links people have posted make it look like this “mandatory Title IX training course” wasn’t a course in the academic, for-credit sense. As such, it’s quite possible that no professors were involved. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/26 "2016-01-13T18:40:06Z")
The “training” and the sexual history questions were part of a training package purchased by the university, so it’s unlikely that any USC professors had anything whatsoever to do with the questions. Personally – and this might come up as I’m starting grad studies next semester – I would not answer the questions. It’s not that I’m ashamed about my sex life, it’s that _my sexual history is private and the university has no need to know_. Which is exactly the conversation we’d be having if such a thing came up. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/27 "2016-01-13T19:29:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > And when they do read them I wonder, does it involve their hand and a bottle of lube? > > Why are college professors so damn interested in students sex lives? Are you female? (Yes/No) Have you had anal sex before? (Yes/No) Did you enjoy it? (Yes/No) Do you have a free period after class? (Yes/No) If you answered “Yes” to all of the above questions, please enter your phone number \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/28 "2016-01-13T20:51:36Z")
Can you think of any other non-medical profession other than college professor, where one can get away with asking people, especially teenagers, about their sex lives and get away with it? Oh, and get paid? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/29 "2016-01-13T21:00:40Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Can you think of any other non-medical profession other than college professor, where one can get away with asking people, especially teenagers, about their sex lives and get away with it? It’s already been established that it wasn’t professors doing the asking, so I’m not sure why you’re saying this. Most college professors, in most contexts, certainly can’t get away with asking people about their sex lives. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/30 "2016-01-13T21:10:15Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Can you think of any other non-medical profession other than college professor, where one can get away with asking people, especially teenagers, about their sex lives and get away with it? > > Oh, and get paid? Are you reading any posts in this thread besides your own? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/31 "2016-01-13T21:48:27Z")
Wadda you expect from a school with _Trojans_ as a mascot? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/32 "2016-01-14T00:16:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you reading any posts in this thread besides your own? Sure have. Look at post #13 above. I Quote: “My students were VERY embarrassed to talk about sex. When I pulled a condom out of my purse and told them that every sexually active person should keep one on hand, they just about died.” ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/33 "2016-01-14T00:20:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It’s already been established that it wasn’t professors doing the asking, so I’m not sure why you’re saying this. Most college professors, in most contexts, certainly can’t get away with asking people about their sex lives. Oh hell they do all the time. From live sex demonstrations to asking students to submit journals describing their sexcapades. Check out this link on [10 controversial College courses on Human Sexuality:](http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/02/21/10-most-controversial-college-courses-on-human-sexuality/) ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/34 "2016-01-14T19:43:23Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And also from that link: > > “USC apologizes for any offense or discomfort caused by optional questions included as part of a mandatory on-line training for students on sexual consent, misconduct and other important issues,” **Dickey** wrote in an email. > > (my bolding) So the sexual history questions were optional, as I suspected. Which also means that the headline “USC apologizes for requiring students to detail sexual history” is a lie. Any comment now, madsircool? Heh Dickey 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/35 "2016-01-14T20:30:19Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Can you think of any other non-medical profession other than college professor, where one can get away with asking people, especially teenagers, about their sex lives and get away with it? > > Oh, and get paid? Sex educator. I mean, not to be completely flippin’ obvious, but any profession where you’re in the business of educating people about sexual safety and health, it can be appropriate to talk to adults (let’s not be cute with the “teenager” tag–it is the legal adulthood status, not their teenager status, that is relevant here) about their sexual behavior. Therapists, clergy, police officers all might have occasion to talk with young adults about issues of sexual safety and health. And “get away” with it. And get paid for it. And if the only way you can imagine such conversations going is pruriently, that illuminates only your own personality, and nothing about the people conducting such work. Now, is there any evidence **at all** that these questions were mandatory, or are we all conceding that campusreform is a bunch of conservative liars whom we’ll never take at face value again, having learned our lesson? I mean, I guess there’s the third option, which is that some of us will kick Lucy’s football the next time it’s held out for us, but I hope we’re all smarter than that. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/36 "2016-01-16T14:01:21Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Sex educator. I mean, not to be completely flippin’ obvious, but any profession where you’re in the business of educating people about sexual safety and health, it can be appropriate to talk to adults (let’s not be cute with the “teenager” tag–it is the legal adulthood status, not their teenager status, that is relevant here) about their sexual behavior. > > Therapists, clergy, police officers all might have occasion to talk with young adults about issues of sexual safety and health. And “get away” with it. And get paid for it. And if the only way you can imagine such conversations going is pruriently, that illuminates only your own personality, and nothing about the people conducting such work. > > Now, is there any evidence **at all** that these questions were mandatory, or are we all conceding that campusreform is a bunch of conservative liars whom we’ll never take at face value again, having learned our lesson? > > I mean, I guess there’s the third option, which is that some of us will kick Lucy’s football the next time it’s held out for us, but I hope we’re all smarter than that. I can see a therapist, counselor, or an investigator but still unsure why an educator needs to. I remember taking a sex ed course in college and it was just all the facts. We covered anatomy, reproduction, biology, disease, sexual history, sex in the media, and alternative lifestyles. No need to pry into the students private sex lives. And we definitely did NOT do the kind of crap I mentioned in post in the link above. I think our issue goes along where you think all college professors are prying into the students sex lives for purely educational reasons and I guess that MIGHT be so. Sometimes. But you cannot tell me there are not those who cross the line from being purely educators to being voyeurs and even deviants. They are human. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/37 "2016-01-16T14:21:46Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Self reported data is useless. If some professor wants to publish a paper with this “study” as their data, I would suggest finding a different college. What other purpose is there for collecting this information from people? Isn’t it amazing that “self reported” data is so blatantly and obviously useless, yet … time and again, people (like professors) who should know better (Shit! My pet dog should know better), continue to ask for it and use it to try to make their points. It is a real head scratcher. (Hmmm … why are “scratcher” and “scratchable” both flagged by the spell checker?) > **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/scratch?s=t)** > > The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years! Both “scratcher” and “scratchable” are contained in the Dictionary link above. Silly spell checker! ---
**Author:** ![Kinkyescort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea5d25/32.png) [@Kinkyescort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinkyescort)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/38 "2016-01-16T14:52:03Z")
I would tell them to take a hike! This is pretty stupid and none of the Uni’s business! ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/39 "2016-01-16T15:46:39Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I remember taking a sex ed course in college and it was just all the facts. We covered anatomy, reproduction, biology, disease, sexual history, sex in the media, and alternative lifestyles. No need to pry into the students private sex lives. And we definitely did NOT do the kind of crap I mentioned in post in the link above. Your college had a sex ed course? Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940/40 "2016-01-16T15:48:54Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Isn’t it amazing that “self reported” data is so blatantly and obviously useless, yet … > > time and again, people (like professors) who should know better (Shit! My pet dog should know better), continue to ask for it and use it to try to make their points. > > It is a real head scratcher. You would think an institution of higher learning would know better but that assumes an agenda-free environment. That ship sailed, sank, and is now a coral reef. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usc-insists-students-answer-questions-about-the-sexual-encounters-before-they-can-take-some-course/742940.md?page=3)