The University’s first Sexual Communication class is holding a fair today to educate students about sexual health and general information.

While the fair promises to be an entertaining event, for some, the most interesting part will be getting a glimpse of what the sexual communication course is about. Associate professor of communications Kama Kosenko , who suggested the creation of this course at N.C . State, says that the university’s class is only the second offered in the nation.

“I think [this class] is incredibly important, mainly because people of college age are at extreme risk for a variety of sexual health threats and I think that it is important not only to inform students about these risks, but to give them a sense of effective ways of communicating about those risks,” Kosenko said. “One of the things we know about the literature on sexual health is that communication can be one of the most powerful preventive behaviors.”

While Kosenko could not comment on why other universities currently choose not to offer a similar course, she is cognizant of the stigmas associated with sex research and the effect that may have on course selection.

“At other universities, some sex researchers and scholars have had some issues, so I was a bit concerned that the class would not be something that people would be interested in for a variety of reasons; but when I first proposed it, my department head was very supportive,” Kosenko said.

Kosenko promoted the class as it opened up for registration and tried to give students good information about what they would be learning in the course.

“I tried my best to promote the class and make sure students knew a little about the topic and myself, to make the topic a little less scary, and this semester we’re close to 70 students,” Kosenko said.

Jessica Highsmith , senior in communications, and Kat Michael, junior in communications, originally enrolled in the course because they enjoyed other courses taught by Kosenko , but both were surprised at the depth and variety the subject had to offer.

“I thought the course was really unique and it seemed like a good way to get out of my comfort zone a little bit,” Highsmith said.

Kat Michael added that, although she enrolled in the course because of the professor, she found it to be an interesting and surprising topic.

“With sex being so prevalent in media and culture, it’s important that we learn how to communicate about sex,” Michael said. “I was worried at first that there wasn’t going to be a lot of information for the course, but I was surprised that there really is a lot of information out there.”

At tomorrow’s fair, Highsmith and Michael will be presenting a booth about sexting , a topic they feel is relevant to students and rarely discussed. Their booth will be one of 15, each designed by fellow students about a different subject. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite booth. The students responsible for the winning booth will receive an automatic A+ on their final exam.

While a variety of different topics from the sexual communication course will be presented, different games will also be present along with refreshments.

Students interested in the course can expect to find it offered again next semester, and are encouraged to attend the fair to see the students’ knowledge put to work.

The fair will be held from 3:00 until 4:14 p.m . today in Caldwell Lounge.