Ali Jackson | Let's talk about sex, DP/ Let's talk about you and me

Sex.

That's right - I said it. Not a word you see too often on these pages, is it? Unless of course, it's coupled with "offender" or "crimes."

However, despite what your parents may have you think, you didn't just show up one day on their doorstep, and sex is out there. It's just not spoken about.

Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with the popular sex blog, Sex and the Ivy, written by Harvard sophomore Lena Chen. Recently, she did a review of Ivy League sex columns for IvyGate, a blog catering to the Ancient Eight.

Some journalism god must love me, because my research for this column coincided with her visit to Penn.

"It surprises me that Penn doesn't have a sex column," she told me. "But then again, a lot of institutions are very sex-negative. You're not encouraged to talk about it in a real way."

She lamented some sex columns that take a "clinical approach to a topic that is very personal."

Unfortunately, that is all many newspapers, including this one, would be willing to accept.

Wharton junior and executive editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian Shawn Safvi explained while he would be "open to the idea [of having a sex column]," it would have to be "written and done responsibly."

Safvi stressed that proven student demand for such a column would influence the Editorial Board's decision to instate one, but also admitted that the paper has "never really offered the position, so there may be a disconnect between us and the students."

UCLA senior and former sex columnist for the Daily Bruin Lara Loewenstein said that her editors "were a little wary about starting a sex column - and that's at a huge public school. But still, I feel like Penn's pretty liberal. You should have one."

That we should - in fact, five out of seven of our Ivy League peers do, some more explicit than others, but all generally sex-related.

Many people attribute this sudden appearance of sex columns to the popularity of shows like Sex and the City - they made it okay to talk about sex. And not just that, but they made it cool to talk about. I mean, who doesn't want to get sex advice from a gorgeous woman in fabulous shoes? I know I do.

Unfortunately, one thing that stands in our way at Penn is that, traditionally, DP columnists don't have specific column topics. "We encourage our columnists to write about a wide array of things," Safvi said. "We don't want to pigeonhole people - every columnist is qualified to speak on every campus issue."

This traditional format makes it difficult for anyone to even pitch a sex column idea, let alone be accepted.

But Loewenstein emphasized the importance of having a place for students to read about sex and relationships. "It provides useful information to people in an anonymous way," she said. "They don't have to admit they don't know something."

Still, the problem is not simply convincing the paper to allow it - you have to find someone to take on the position.

After going public on Sex and the Ivy, Chen said her undergraduate life "will never be the same. Everyone thinks of you in that context."

Loewenstein agreed, noting, "You sort of become a campus celebrity and that's the first thing people think about when they meet you."

Beyond what people will think of you, Chen said a sex columnist needs to be willing to take some personal risk. "If you're not willing to put yourself out there, then why bother?" she said. "It should be of substance, and that often involves personal experience."

So, come on, people, who's up for the job? And before you all start saying, "Well, Ali, if you're so gung ho about it, why don't you write one?" let me assure you: no one wants to hear about my dysfunctional yet ultimately boring life. Trust me.

But I'm sure there's someone out there who you would love to hear all about. Someone whose thoughts and opinions on sex could educate and entertain Penn's student body. Just heed Loewenstein's advice: "If someone takes it on at Penn," she warned, "just let them beware."

Oh yeah, and good luck dealing with being entertaining and worthwhile while still writing "responsibly." When I asked Safvi what exactly that meant, he paused, smirked a little, then answered, "Tasteful, not offensive, and done in a sophisticated light."

Oh, okay, so boring. Got it.

Ali Jackson is a Wharton and College sophomore from Cardiff, Calif. Her e-mail address is jackson@dailypennsylvanian.com. A Little Person-Ali-ty appears on Mondays.