2008 Woodie Awards
Not your average 'sex class'
Alexandra Kozinski
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Features
Typically the term "sex class" brings to mind pre-teenagers giggling about breasts and erections. Scientific terms are used, the facts are taught and teachers usually try and escape the classroom as quickly as possible when the bell rings to avoid any further questions. However, when I heard about a new course offered called "The Philosophy of Sex and Love", I knew this had to be a different kind of experience.
Ed D'Angelo entered the classroom on the first night of class and walked straight to the board. He immediately reminded me of a sweet grandfather, with his white hair and metal-rimmed glasses. He wore a pair of black dress pants and an argyle sweater and his warm smile convinced me that he would present the image of a conservative man.
He set his briefcase on the table and then proceeded to write a list of scientific sexual terms on the board. He then invited the class to call out the more commonly used slang words. Instinctively, I panicked. I knew the words running through my own mind were certainly inappropriate to be saying in front of who I thought was a sweet, innocent, elderly man.
The next thing I knew, I was hearing words that would make my grandmother pass out from embarrassment. D'Angelo, however, nodded along nonchalantly and even contributed to the list, adding his two cents into the class discussion.
I sat at my desk in disbelief. But D'Angelo seemed unflustered at even the most vulgar slang terms my generation is all too familiar with.
D'Angelo has been teaching various philosophy courses at Quinnipiac University since 1997, but it wasn't until 2007 that he introduced 'The Philosophy of Sex and Love' to the campus. He previously taught the course at the University of Bridgeport and spoke highly of the experience. There are, however, some misconceptions about the course. "…I've had colleagues who would smirk and made fun of it in a way. I guess they think of it more as a sex-ed course rather than really talking about moral and social issues connected with sex and love", D'Angelo explained.
Ed D'Angelo entered the classroom on the first night of class and walked straight to the board. He immediately reminded me of a sweet grandfather, with his white hair and metal-rimmed glasses. He wore a pair of black dress pants and an argyle sweater and his warm smile convinced me that he would present the image of a conservative man.
He set his briefcase on the table and then proceeded to write a list of scientific sexual terms on the board. He then invited the class to call out the more commonly used slang words. Instinctively, I panicked. I knew the words running through my own mind were certainly inappropriate to be saying in front of who I thought was a sweet, innocent, elderly man.
The next thing I knew, I was hearing words that would make my grandmother pass out from embarrassment. D'Angelo, however, nodded along nonchalantly and even contributed to the list, adding his two cents into the class discussion.
I sat at my desk in disbelief. But D'Angelo seemed unflustered at even the most vulgar slang terms my generation is all too familiar with.
D'Angelo has been teaching various philosophy courses at Quinnipiac University since 1997, but it wasn't until 2007 that he introduced 'The Philosophy of Sex and Love' to the campus. He previously taught the course at the University of Bridgeport and spoke highly of the experience. There are, however, some misconceptions about the course. "…I've had colleagues who would smirk and made fun of it in a way. I guess they think of it more as a sex-ed course rather than really talking about moral and social issues connected with sex and love", D'Angelo explained.
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