Optimistic “sexpert” to lecture Thursday

By Gus Bode

Jay Friedman presents his award-winning lecture The J-Spot at 7 p.m.

Factoid:The J-Spot:A Sex Educator Tells All will be presented at 7 p.m. September 12 in Student Center Ballroom D

As students file into a dimly lit room, they will devote the next hour of their attention to sex – primarily the “J-Spot.”

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Jay Friedman, a certified sex educator, will perform his award-winning lecture “The J-spot:A Sex Educator Tells All,” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Student Center Ballroom D.

The lecture emphasizes how society hinders sexual freedom and details the three conditions Friedman said partners should achieve before sex.

“All three of them get at the importance of knowing your own values and being able to communicate openly about sex with your partner,” he said.

While in his teens, Friedman was faced with the unplanned pregnancy of his girlfriend. He said that experience greatly influenced him and he uses it to relate to students.

“I talk about my experience growing up and how I’m typical of most students in that I didn’t get much information about sex,” he said. “[The pregnancy] made me realize that I didn’t know everything about sex like I thought I did, so that’s what encouraged me to start down the road of becoming a sex educator.”

Although Friedman receives opposition at times for his lecture, he generally receives positive feedback because it is an issue students find interesting. He said students are pleased with the way he openly talks about sex.

“For them it’s refreshing to not have someone come in and do a doom and gloom podium speech and instead to talk about some of the positive aspects of sex and relationships in addition helping them prevent the problems,” he said.

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As a male, Friedman believes he has an advantage in talking about the sexual pressures of men that can lead to a sexual assault date rape.

“That pressure of homophobia makes men often needing to affirm their masculinity and as a result, that’s one of the reasons I think some men force sex on their partners,” he said.

Ingrid Schiff, a junior in radio-television from Pontiac, is the news and lecture director for Student Programming Council and is responsible for finding and bringing Friedman to SIUC.

“When he talks about sex, he doesn’t lecture you about it,” she said. “I think [students] will like it because it’s not boring; it’s very entertaining.”

Friedman said he looks forward to lectures because he has the chance to help students with their concerns and questions. He said students should come with an open mind.

“For me one of the important points is to help students overcome the barriers of communication and to start learning more so that all of us can have happy pleasurable relationships,” he said.

Friedman used props in past presentations – one being a giant condom he wore on his head – and although he said he is not bringing the hat, “There might be an interesting visual prop or two.”

Reporter Lindsey J. Mastis can be reached at [email protected]

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