Dorm room sex etiquette 101

thelastdays

Wed Jan 4 2012 21:52

This article comes across as a bit vulgar to say the least. I think the author and editor enjoy rocking the boat.. and are basically trolls trying to get a rise out of people. Good, I'll take the bait. This newspaper used to have some decency years ago but there's so many vulgar articles and others with liberal political agendas these days. I understand that the Constitution of the United States offers freedom of speech, but with freedom comes responsibility too. There are community decency laws for a reason (that's why pornography production is illegal in all states except California). The author should take up a job over there on the west coast where she'll be accepted as part of the "norm".

goldclaw

Sat Jan 15 2011 10:14

I CAN'T believe the EDITOR let this airhead Brittany Purvis write an article like this in the Student Printz!!--My grandfather started the Student Printz and not only did he name the paper but he was the Editor and cartoonest of the paper!!--I am not a prude but this girl/kid needs to really hone her skills in writing an article about something as personal as sex!!!--I had my share of partying (who doesn't if they go to USM) but the words she used --ie--"midstroke at the computer" --what the hell does that mean???- I can only guess!!--Anyway,I believe that this article was so inappropiate and down-right VULGAR that it demeans the Student Printz and degrades the image that the paper should express!!--I know this is the 21st century now and the political correctness crowd has taken over just about every campus in America but this is totally unacceptable journalism and really should have been writen in a more "mature way"--I know18-22 years olds are going to have sex and party at every campus in America but using words like "jacking" or "jilling" are crass and just using gutter talk to make her point--Did she even get permission to write such an article???--Did she re-read what she wrote after writing the trash---Some 18-22 years olds don't want to read garbage like this!!---probably a minority of them but never the less ,they don't want to read this crap!--This is a very good example of snail brains who think they are writing articles that young adults should know!!! --Grow up Brittany and take a Technical writing class like I had to when I went to Southern Mississippi--Free Speech is one thing and we should all know the 1st admendment but this article takes it past the level of a low level porn article!--This is EXACTLY what POLITICAL CORRECTNESS has done to AMERICA!!---I'm sure Brittany can get a job with 'HUSTLER" after she gets her degree unless she chooses to drop out of school and write short stories for some sleezy porn magazine!!!!

kate smith

Wed Oct 28 2009 02:52

Your link to the NY Times article provided an excellent comparison. I hope everyone followed the link and read it. The article proved that a journalist can write about a controversial issue in a mature, professional, and tactful way. The author managed to get straight to the point without using excessive slang or being explicitly vulgar. That is the art of being a journalist. If one must rely on graphic vulgarity to catch a reader's attention, she is not much of a writer. However, I do not blame Brittany. Her editor should have dealt with it.

To everyone stating that we commenters are "outraged" because the printz is talking about sex-- you're missing the point. Of course college students have sex. Of course it is a popular topic and has a place in a school newspaper. Of course journalism is about controversial topics.

Just write about it with some class and professionalism?

Your name

Thu Oct 15 2009 16:09

Ultimately, this is a reflection of the Editor in Chief. The person in this position (particularly at a student paper) should consider anything published as evidence of worthiness of a professional position in the near future. This article, and thus this edition of the paper, will not go far in landing that future job.

Kaelyn

Tue Oct 13 2009 23:52

Good for you, Brittany. I write my school's sex column and I totally respect what you've done here. Demure, but interesting. This is a great column and it proves that a sex column can be done tastefully. Don't worry about all this controversy crap. Everyone in our position goes through it and I think it's because people can handle talking about the downsides of sex, or the medical sides, but not the obvious side: pleasure. Keep on keepin' on mama...

FTP

Sun Oct 11 2009 20:58

I find it sad that society will allow this kind of crap to be published in a public newspaper. What happened to itntegrity, dignity, basic moral fiber?

fan

Tue Oct 6 2009 00:19

Uh, hello? Exactly what school do you think we're talking about here?

Yeah, USM is not in the SEC. And if you've ever been to an SEC game at an SEC school, the differences are pretty obvious. You'd never see crap like this in student newspapers on those campuses. Pick one up the next time you're at one of those other schools.

Would you find controverial issues? - yes.
Would you find some over-sexed college girl who writing about her sex life like she's talking to her 8th grade classmates at a slumber party - no.

And yeah, it's not on the same level. That's a "duh" statement.

a daily mississippian

Sun Oct 4 2009 18:44

What would qualify an SEC school to be "seen on a different level" than Southern Miss? Lauren T. seems to be saying SEC schools are held in higher esteem. I disagree. However a school's reputation can be a reflection of the quality of its newspaper. I suggest you speak to the editor about fine journalism going to print.

Lauren T.

Sat Oct 3 2009 19:07

We are not seen on Ole Miss and MSU's level because we're not an SEC school. Not because of an article about sex etiquette in a newspaper. It's a dorm room, this happens, this was a friendly playful reminder to be respectful to your roommate not an example of everyone's thoughts and behaviors at southern miss.

Zach

Thu Oct 1 2009 16:15

Way to go, Brittany. While I do think you could have done a bit better job of editing, you didn't say anything that we haven't all thought about at one time or another. Hope to see more articles by you in upcoming papers.

Clarence

Thu Oct 1 2009 13:40

Re: A daily mississippian

It's cool that you can name all the people responding to this column, but I still can't for the life of me figure out what you're trying to say. Everything you wrote is just some pooh pooh-ing statement with no substance to back up why you think that way. Whose integrity? Whose personal responsibility? I can guarantee that Brittany and the editorial staff at the Printz are fine with their decision to run this, and if you don't like it, feel free to not pick up a free paper. Martha's got a lot more pressing matters to deal with than trying to censor the student newspaper.

Enjoy

Thu Oct 1 2009 10:11

Same subject...New York Times the same day
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/tufts-sex/?scp=1&sq=tufts&st=cse
grow up people, we don't live in the stone ages and the people who are becoming so outraged at the column seem to be those that cannot face up to the facts that things like this need to be addressed by people who are living within the same space before a misunderstanding is able to arise. Also, to all of you who questioned both the newspaper and the editor's judgment...that new york times article is for you. Read it and weep.

INDIGNANT

Thu Oct 1 2009 01:32

OH MY GOD. Since when do college students have sex? The absolute nerve of this article, what with being practical and suggesting how to maintain a sex life without alienating your roommate.

Martin

Thu Oct 1 2009 00:03

I think that, in general, this article is fine...honestly, people get far too bent out of shape by sex. It's one of humanity's most basic desires. It's the mechanism by which our species even continues existing. It's the cornerstone of marriage, family, children. Yes, Brittany could have danced around her subject, used veiled references and sly innuendo.

Isn't that really more childish than this? There's something to be said for dealing with a subject directly: people at college have sex. It can be awkward, and it's something that needs to be addressed. If this offends more delicate sensibilities, well, read the headline and skip the copy.

I congratulate Brittany. It's not a perfect article, but it's certainly competent, confident, and direct.

a daily mississippian

Wed Sep 30 2009 23:20

I agree with Russ, Russell, former student, Shannon M., Christian S, Astounded this article got printed, no thanks, and several no names. Clarence totally missed the point. It's called integrity. Personal responsibility. This is trash journalism at its best. The President of this University should be checking on this editor.

Russell Cloy

Wed Sep 30 2009 22:11

Every once in a while an editor has a lapse in judgement. I think publishing this crap qualifies.

Russ

Wed Sep 30 2009 21:58

The University Newspaper is not the place for this kind of crap. I can't believe it got published in the first place. Is there any adult supervision at the Printz?

Clarence

Wed Sep 30 2009 17:20

To the dude that mentioned it, are you implying that the US isn't an HIV/syphilis/gonorrhea/other STD infected country? And the purpose of a sex column is to give advice about sex, wanting to get laid is 100% a part of that. Some people have made some god points responding to this article, but yours was the most pointless.

This article does come off a little heavy on the graphic descriptions, but for the most part it strikes me as fairly harmless. Gettin' walked in on while jerkin' it is a legit concern when living in the dorms, and using cute terms like "needing alone time" isn't gonna get the point across any more effectively. And it's an opinion article written by someone who's not a journalism major. While it won't be the best written, it's at least more entertaining most other things in the opinion section, especially by Patrick Fisackerly.

Your name

Wed Sep 30 2009 14:37

These issues may not matter to everyone, but what issues do? As a student who spent 3 years living in a dorm and 2 years working for residence life, I can tell you that there are students that are affected by this topic and appreciate a frank discussion. I feel that this article is far less provocative than most of the articles published in the Student Printz during the era of "Pillow Talk." Nonetheless, the quality of journalism in the Student Printz has never been outstanding. The majority of the writers are not journalism majors and the majority of journalism majors haven't seemed to care enough to clean it up themselves. If this were to appear in the New York Times, I'd be worried. As it is, it appears next to incomplete lists of homecoming candidates and repetative, weekly articles about how awesome USM football is. That seems appropriate to me.

Your name

Wed Sep 30 2009 01:36

I thought this was a great article and was relieved to see something a little more entertaining in the Student Printz. Obviously the people bashing on this article have never had to deal with having a roommate and the awkward situations that come with it!