Drawn by large displays of media or phallic-shaped cookies, large numbers of students crowded around booths at the sexual health and information fair held Monday in the Caldwell Lounge.

Hosted by students currently enrolled in the new sexual communication course, presenting students drew guests in to talk to them about a topic not usually discussed such an open setting–sex.

While a group of all male students presented on the negative myths associated with viewing pornography, a group of all female students hosted a conversation about birth control and where to get it on campus. With fifteen booths each focused on a different topic related to sexual communication, there was plenty for guests to do, see and discuss.

Linda Battaglia , senior in communications, engaged attendees by asking them about how they plan on telling their children about sex. Her booth, along with three other students, discussed this topic in depth.

“Talking to kids about sex is important; it’s so prevalent in our culture now,” Battaglia said. Her group found research to support that, when informing their children about sex, parents typically talk to children of their own gender. In addition, Battaglia said that research has found it’s best to talk to kids about sexually transmitted diseases between the ages of 11 and 15.

Senior in communications Jacqueline Small’s group presented on sexting , though it was a touchy subject, Small said.

“We made sure to interview people of different ages from different colleges,” Small said. “A lot of people felt really uncomfortable talking about sexting , but what was surprising was that the people who offered information had a lot to tell. They were really open and informative.”

While many of the booths focused on lighter topics like sexting and talking to children, some chose to look into the more serious aspects of sexual communication.

Lindsey Faraone , a junior in communications, said presenting on sexual harassment carried its challenges because of the difficulty of forming a definition.

“Harassment is something we can all recognize, but it’s really hard to put it into words,” Faraone said. “We had to make sure we didn’t cross any boundaries when we compiled research, especially because of the topic.”

The “sexperts” roaming the commons reminded the presenters that a competition lurked in the background. Once tallied, the booth voted number one by these judges and attending students will guarantee its presenters an A+ on their upcoming final exam.

“Overall, I think this project really showed us what the class was about,” Faraone said. “Sex and the issues involved in communicating about it is often a taboo topic, but it really needs to be talked about.”