Let's talk about sex

Chemistry might make or break a first date, but according to Vicki Thorn, biochemistry is what will keep them coming back for more.

Last night, Thorn — an international speaker on the science of sexuality — spoke to more than 100 students in Hoff Theater about pregnancy, chemical birth control, pornography and the differences between men and women. Throughout the 90-minute event dubbed "What they didn't teach you in Sex Ed," Thorn used scientific arguments to talk about pronounced differences between men and women — from the way they think and learn to the way they shop and give directions — as well as the biochemistry of attraction and attachment.

"Nobody's really pulled all this science together," Thorn said in an interview before the event, which the Catholic Student Center and the Student Government Association co-sponsored. "This is really about appreciation of how our bodies work in relationships."

Thorn said these differences between the sexes stem partly from prehistoric societies, where men typically hunted in the forest while women gathered food and materials and watched after their families.

"We are still Stone Age people living in a high-tech world," she said. "We're meant to be complementary. One's not better than the other, we're just different."

Thorn took the audience out of the prehistoric age and into current society, where she said the prevalence of chemical birth control has severely altered recent generations' biochemistry. Because chemical birth control changes a woman's hormone levels, Thorn said those on birth control are more likely to seek a mate who is protecting and has higher testosterone levels. But if a female goes off birth control after she is in a relationship, Thorn said the woman may find herself less compatible with the partner after her hormone levels regulate.

Junior English major Sheila McMenamin said she agreed with Thorn's opinion on the differences between men and women — for example, how girls are more likely to stay calm and focused in a learning situation, while boys have trouble sitting still. She also thought it was interesting to learn about the biology behind sex-related topics.

"I thought the biological stuff was pretty cool, and pretty much every girl I know was on birth control, so it was interesting to learn more about that," McMenamin said.

However, she said Thorn's presentation was slightly biased.

"I believe the facts she presented, but it was more of a one-sided thing," McMenamin said.

Although Thorn said she spoke on the basis of science, she founded the first post-abortion healing ministry in the U.S. in 1984, called Project Rachel, and is now the founder and executive director of the National Office of Post-Abortion Healing — an office that counsels people dealing with an abortion and educates medical and mental health professionals and clergy people on how to be supportive of women who have had abortions and seek out their help.

Junior biology major John Sittmann agreed that her viewpoints were slanted.

"She was only using arguments tailored to what she wanted to say," he said.

However, David Burkey, the Catholic Student Center's interfaith representative, said he was so confident in Thorn's lessons after hearing her speak in Madrid, he was inspired to bring her to the campus.

"She really has a strong background in studying the body, especially psychology," said Burkey, a sophomore business and music major. "She definitely has a solid background in understanding the physiology of what's happening, especially in sexuality."

Burkey said although sexuality is part of the Catholic Church because Catholics believe it is a gift people are given from God, it is not necessarily a topic people associate with religion.

"We hope to raise some questions and gain some interest," Burkey said. "We're hoping to kind of present a different point of view."

Rob Walsh, the Catholic Student Center's chaplain, added that the event was more about how humans relate to each other than the physical act of sex.

"Human sexuality is no different from any other gift," he said. "If you don't talk about it, how are we ever going to get to a greater understanding?"

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