Tenn. University Cuts Funds to 'Sex Week' Observance
The chancellor of a university in Tennessee has announced that his academic institution will not be using state funds for the campus' first ever "Sex Week" observance.
Jimmy G. Cheek, chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said in a statement released Wednesday that he believed the observance would not be a good use of tax dollars.
"We support the process and the students involved, but we should not use state funds in this manner," said Cheek.
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"Sex Week" is a week-long series of events organized by the student group Sexual Empowerment and Awareness at Tennessee and scheduled to go from Sunday, April 7 to Friday, April 12.
According to Andy Sher of the Times Free Press, events scheduled include a workshop with a lesbian bondage expert and a campus-wide scavenger hunt for a "golden condom."
While "Sex Week" organizers will still have $6,700 to use for the workshops and events, Cheek's decision makes the once available $11,145 from academic departments and programs unavailable.
Lambda Student Union President Cat Miller, whose organization will be taking part in the observance, told The Christian Post that it was "a lazy decision, chosen by misinformed people."
"Chancellor Cheek has proven time and time again to ignore the needs and wants of the University of Tennessee student and faculty body, with refusals to even consider domestic partner benefits, and now, a refusal to allow real diversity on our campus," said Miller.
"It makes me the least proud to attend this bureaucratically ruled university. Their retracting of funds just proves how badly our campus needs Sex Week at UT."
Miller explained to CP that there would be "around 30 programs (workshops, lectures, discussions, entertainment) that revolve around topics of sex, sexuality, and gender."
"It's primary goals are to create an environment on our college campus that says it's okay to have and talk about safe, consensual sex, while at the same time saying it's okay to choose not to have sex," said Miller.
"They aim to have programs for everyone, including inclusive programs exploring virginity, religion, masculinity, sexual health, sexual assault, gender, and sexuality."
Joe DiPietro, University of Tennessee system president, meanwhile, concurred with Cheek and made similar statements about the issue of accountability to the state government.
"The University is accountable to the General Assembly, the governor and the people of Tennessee for the use of state tax dollars," said DiPiertro.
"The University's three-part mission is to provide education, research and public service, and the state allocates this funding to help us fulfill the mission. Some activities planned as part of Sex Week are not an appropriate use of state tax dollars."
The University of Tennessee did not return comment to The Christian Post for this story by press time.
