G-spot: Challenging "accepted" bedroom behavior

What do a 19th-century German sexologist and Canadian rapper Drake have in common? Rumors over the summer circulated about how Drake enjoyed getting his ass eaten by a female fan. This sex act is colloquially referred to as “rimming”––or more technically anilingus. I found out that, unsurprisingly, this sex act is not at all new and has been an area of interest to serious researchers since sexologist Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing published Psychopathia Sexualis in 1886.

Titled “Warning: A Column on Butt Play,” this NYMag article published on April 8, 2014 proclaimed that “butt-stuff is such a thing,” citing Cosmopolitan and Playboy articles that centered on participation in the act. What I’m getting at is not that rimming and other anal-related sex acts are now “in,” but rather that people are now being honest about participating in them.

My experience as a gay man informs me––especially from squeamish straight friends––that these sex acts are relegated as queer since they deviate from the supposedly traditional male-into-female penetration scheme. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention––also cited in the NYMag article––notes that 44 percent of straight men and 36 percent of women have had anal sex. This means––since the gays are tragically less abundant––the larger portion of anal sex is happening between straight people.

All of this is meant to highlight that people of all sexualities have much more varied bedroom experiences then we would like to believe. The perception and shame around anal activities seems to be hygiene-related, on the surface level.

For the greater good, let it be known that rimming can be hygienic and absolutely safe—“normal” if you’d like. Cleaning just like you would any other part of the body will prevent unfortunate consequences; a dental dam will provide a barrier if desired. Communication and consent are obviously essential and should occur before any of us start exploring new and exciting territories on our partner(s).

Since everyone has a butt, its androgyny is likely more subtle in aversion to rimming as men might view this as an emasculation. These men should just get over it. Just like oral sex, reciprocity, if desired, should be stressed. Any shame you may have is understandable, but try to remember that none of these sex acts are new under the sun and that you have no reason to feel bad about what you desire.

Rapper Nicki Minaj might help us to begin to see rimming without negative stigma. On her new single “Only” featuring Drake, she raps, “Let em’ eat my ass like a cupcake.” Beside the dig at Drake, Minaj is likening the sex act to tasty desserts. The hope of all this discussion is a departure of shame from other sex acts. We as a culture are slowly, honestly beginning to admit that our sex acts are infinitely more varied than just images of “vanilla” sex.

On behalf of Drake, Minaj and myself, I urge you to try to broaden your horizons and let go of outdated and restricting models of sex so you can enjoy new intimacies you might be missing out on.

Letter to The Editor

Geneseo is an exceptional college, but it lacks a reliable staff support system for LGBTQ-plus students. This is entirely unacceptable for a leading SUNY school that is considered a “public Ivy.” A cursory Google search of “Geneseo LGBTQ” reveals few resources for students. This highlights the core problem facing LGBTQ-plus students: the college officially offers essentially nothing. In all fairness, an LGBTQ-plus working committee was established in 2013 to advocate for students on a policy level for the college. This was an excellent step, however, it does nothing for students seeking LGBTQ-plus support systems.

Associate professor of English Alice Rutkowski has done incredible work for students entirely on a volunteer basis and firmly believes that Geneseo is invested in providing support and resources for LGBTQ-plus students.

“My experience on this committee has demonstrated that our campus is filled with generous, well-intentioned individuals who want to help LGBTQ-plus students in any way they can,” Rutkowski said. “The fact that our Diversity Statement has recently been revised to include gender expression and sexuality is also very heartening.”

While Rutkowski is proud of Geneseo’s commitment to addressing topics like sexuality and gender identity, she believes that the university could do more to improve.

“Our college does not have the same kind of institutional commitment to these issues that our peer institutions do,” she said. “Given the college’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, I hope that we would soon be able to officially dedicate new staff and resources to this important issue.”

The peer institutions that Rutkoswki referred to have an on-staff representative to respond to crises, plan events, advocate for the students and make the college a safer and more comfortable place for LGBTQ-plus students overall.

Not only do schools like Syracuse University have comprehensive support systems with staff, but they also have a resource center and “safe spaces” for LGBTQ-plus students seeking help. Geneseo has nothing of the sort––the only “safe space” here is in the form of weekly Pride Alliance meetings.

Even SUNY Oneonta, a college of comparable size to Geneseo, has both a resource center and a staff member dedicated to these concerns. I have often heard that conditions are just fine for LGBTQ-plus students at Geneseo, so nothing needs to be done. In light of recent alleged harrassment of a transgender student, however, this is clearly not the case.

One might argue this is an anomaly, but my brief tenure on campus says otherwise. As a Pride executive board member, students come to other students and me with intense personal issues, seeking support and guidance because they have nowhere else to go. It is entirely unacceptable that this burden is placed on Pride, a student organization, because the college has put no other safety net in place for these students.

Unlike other minorities, LGBTQ-plus people often have no one to look to for specific support; family members aren’t often LGBTQ-plus, let alone understanding or tolerant. This unique status is what demands institutional support systems that other colleges have recognized and established. Until Geneseo recognizes that it needs a staff member to protect and support its LGBTQ-plus students, the college will fail to adequately show support for them.

“House of Cards” presents intriguing political drama

Frank Underwood returns stronger than ever with suave and slithery deception for season two of the political drama “House of Cards.” If you’re unfamiliar with “House of Cards,” it’s a Netflix Original Series, which means you don’t tune in to watch once a week on television; rather, all episodes for a season are released at once on Netflix.

The model has been successful, notably proven with the popularity of the show: 670,000 viewers watching the entire second season over Presidents’ Weekend, according to research by Procera. The official Barack Obama Twitter account even tweeted about it.

The original series first aired in Britain in 1990 and was then Americanized to its current form. The most outstanding aspect of the show is the continual deconstruction of the fourth wall – Underwood talking right at you as the audience member and having conversations with you as though he is seeing your reactions. Ultimately, Underwood treats you as an accomplice in his immorality.

Kevin Spacey drives the entire show. Without his expertise playing this politician, steamy and southern with bourbon pulsing through his veins, the whole dynamic is unimaginable. The intimacy established with this direct address relationship pulls the audience in time after time as the act of watching the show becomes active rather than passive as you journey with Underwood, evaluating the decisions he makes, keeping you in mind.

The cinematography this season is more gorgeous and moody than season one, and the supporting cast is similarly compelling, specifically Robin Wright as Claire Underwood. Her character is the furthest thing from a suppliant wife. She’s fiercely venomous and arguably has less remorse than her male counterpart. Their dualistic control and deception brings a new understanding to the phrase “power couple.”

Season two, compared to season one, spends time developing side characters to the point of exhaustion. In an attempt to humanize these pawns (or victims) of the Underwoods, the show frequently panders with side plots that have no bearing come time for the finale. In other words, they often function as filler in plot.

Another minor flaw this season is the overtly obvious attempts to generate plot points based on recent real political conflicts. This choice gives many of the conflicts a false and contrived feeling, diminishing the usual high drama the Underwoods’ power grab generates. Without spoiling specific plot events, the conflicts this season feel as though they serve the plot rather than the conflicts making the plot.

Having followed this show closely, along with the majority of the other anti-hero dramas churned in the past forever, I find “House of Cards” to be no more than a top-notch, high-end political soap opera. This is not to say the show is bad in any way, but retrospectively to dramas that functionally redefined how we evaluate television – “The Sopranos,” “Mad Men” and “Six Feet Under,” for example – it’s hard to view “House of Cards” with the same intensity and respect of other series.

Regardless, I would recommend the show due to some powerful moments alone for lazy, frigid days indoors. Netflix encourages binge watching, so have at it, and remember Underwood’s words, “Democracy is so overrated.”