by Spencer Weinbender
Staff Writer

How are your relationships doing? Want them to be better?

Winter quarter has just the class for you!

Intersextions is a 15-credit interdisciplinary class that marries three courses—women’s studies, psychology, and speech communications— into a curriculum that offers a new perspective on sexual intimacy and how it relates to power, communication and gender differences.

Diana Knauf, psychology teacher of Intersextions, noted, “With these three disciplines especially, they’re so interconnected that it almost feels wrong to learn them apart.”

Is this just another sex education class? Not according to speech communications professor Brooke Zimmers.

“There are very few textbooks that put human sexuality in the context of human relationships,” she said. “This class is pretty innovative.”

The curriculum covers everything from the anatomy and physiology of sexual intimacy to the effects it has on our lives and culture.

“How can we improve our sex lives if we don’t know anything about communication and gender relationships?” asked Knauf as she highlighted the class’ perks.

Students will complete assignments and give presentations that apply to their own lives. In the past, students presented sexual issues that specifically applied to them. One student who was allergic to latex gave a presentation on the alternatives to latex condoms. Another brought in her collection of sex toys for others who may not have otherwise seen such objects.

“No one said that class shouldn’t be fun,” said Knauf with a chuckle.

Believing that Hollywood has shown a huge effect on our view of sexuality, the instructors have shown films like “Oleanna” and “9½ Weeks” to be analyzed by classes for their portrayals of gender and power differences.

“In the movies, everyone sinks into bed,” said Knauf. “There’s fireworks and the sex is perfect. That’s simply not real life.”

The class is meant to point out the pitfalls in any relationship and give students the tools to recognize and escape from those traps. Women’s history and power between genders are also covered, but most discussions are sex-related.

The idea for the class came about as an offshoot of the physical education and psychology IDS class Sex & Sweat, taught in part by Knauf. When the three instructors began discussing the possibility of teaching a class together, Intersextions was born.

“It’s a different way to learn,” said Knauf. “I really look forward to this class. It’s such a privilege.”

Intersextions is one of three Interdisciplinary Studies classes being offered during winter quarter. The oher courses in the series are “To Speak And Be Heard: Fighting for Rights in America” and “Why the West Was Won…For Now.”

The former is a conglomeration of English and History classes that addresses issues on the continuing struggle and definition of our rights as Americans. The latter is an International Studies course viewing the western systems of capitalism and the nation- state from the standpoint of history, economics, and political science.

Intersextions will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., from Monday through Thursday in Room 2926. It comes around once every other year.