By Lexie V. Owen | Echo
"Sexuality and the Body" has taken on a new name to match its new theme.
The program was organized by a committee within Residence Life led by director of Residence Life Programs Sara Hightower, Samuel Morris hall director Tyler Witzig and English hall director Sarah James. Graduate assistants involved are D'Andre Coats, Charles Allen, Amy Nicols and Jason Koh.
Together they decided that this year's program would be taking on a slightly different theme: sexuality and power.
"Power sort of rose to the surface for us last spring when we were trying to discern what the theme could be for this year," Hightower said. "Power's been used against us and has impacted our sexuality in less than helpful ways. We observe sexuality in our culture, but how do we make sense of that in light of our faith and think about it rightly?"
This fits in with the broader plan that in their four years, students will have a better understanding of sexuality as a whole with regard to identity and community.
"Some students come in with this idea that sexuality is sex," Witzig said. "And there's so much more to explore there. If you look at the four-year progression of what we're going to be talking about, you'll see a variety of themes that will hopefully broaden this picture of what sexuality really means."
The committee soon came to the conclusion that the program would need a new name befitting the new focus.
"'Sex and the Cornfields' is catchy, but not necessarily what we're going for," Hightower said. "It didn't capture for us what we intended for the week, so it felt misleading."
After significant brainstorming, the committee settled on "Sexuality and the Body" as the most appropriate title.
"The connection with the body is in part with realizing that we're embodied people," Hightower said. "We live and do our faith within this body. But it also means the body of Christ. So my sexuality doesn't just impact me as an individual, but it also impacts the community."
In addition to this change, the committee decided to subtract the element of an outside speaker for this particular program. In the past, Residence Life sought to give students outside perspectives and an opportunity to gain wisdom from sources outside of Taylor. But this year, they decided to reach into the wealth of knowledge that exists on campus.
"We loved the idea of some speakers that really know our community," Hightower said. "We tried to think of people that students are really intentionally drawn to so they'll carry this credibility so you'll want to listen to them. They tend to be more trusted voices."
For this task, the committee called on such trusted campus personalities as philosophy professor Brad Seaman, communications professor Linda Manganello, director of Student Programs Steve Austin and his wife Kate and counselor Bob Neideck. Throughout the week they spoke on the topics of sexuality and power, gender and power, media and power and the misuse of power.
With a new theme, a new name and new speakers, the Residence Life committee hope to start students on a four year journey of discovery.
