I've written previously about the Course on Human Sexuality at my university, offered by the psychology department. It is famous for its clinical exercises to push sexual boundaries. Once it had tipped a toe even into nudity among the classmates -- albeit in a small way. At one afterhours session, groups of 2 men and 2 women were required to decide which one individual amongst them would participate in an assigned discussion, in the nude. But that was weak tea compared to what the department had decided to embark on today. Something never done before.
"Class, you all signed up for this course understanding that openness about sex and the human body was a requirement. Some of you have explored sexual openness; others have been more the observer. But an occasion has presented itself, and I want to take this class to a new level. By coincidence, we are scheduled to have class next Wednesday, during national Nude Day. "
There was a buzzing among the students at the professor's words. Everyone had heard of Nude Day, of stories of groups, even communities, foregoing clothes for a day. But these were stories about strangers in distant places. It had never happened here.
"I am proposing that the members of this class on human sexuality be the vanguard of sexual openness on campus. All of you will be nude the entire day -- doing all of your normal activities, going to class, to the gym, to the library, etc., in the nude. It will proclaim the beauty and sacredness of the human form to the rest of the campus and to each other."
It was a lovely speech, passionate even.
"You must be joking," said one freshman girl.
"I could never do something like that," proclaimed another.
A small insurrection was stirring. The professor had to act fast.
"Now wait, folks. I know on initial presentation, it sounds bold. Maybe outrageous. But what have we learned in the class over the past several months? That if we suspend conventional morality, conventional thinking, the reward in personal growth is huge. Consider how you viewed sex before you started the class, and now, how much more free, open, confident and even joyful you are about sex."
Heads nodded. Yes, it was true. No one was unchanged in their attitude toward sex. But this suggestion? This was a leap of faith, a bridge further than ever before. All prior acts had been among this small, select group of classmates. Everyone in the same boat. What was being proposed was completely different. To remove all clothes and mingle in a community of clothed individuals? It was definitely an insane idea.
"Sorry professor," said Dawn. "We'd be viewed as wanton exhibitionists, offering our bodies for sex. Our photos would be all over the internet. My parents would pull me out of school, probably enrolling me in a nunnery. And we're not even Catholic!" (That provoked some laughter, but the point was made.)
The guys vocally disagreed. "It's a chance to demonstrate how far we students have come. How we reject the public shaming implicit in hiding our bodies under clothes."
"Yeah, the human body is beautiful," said another fellow. "I don't understand the reluctance to show it."
The class quickly divided into two camps. Guys in favor of the proposition, girls against it.
The professor decided to use this as a teaching moment. "Doesn't this divide among the men and women in approaching Nude Day clearly reflect how our society views females as chaste creatures whose modesty is a virtue to be protected? Yet men's willingness to bare their bodies can be seen as a display of courage, even virility."
"I have an idea," said Dawn, one of the students. "For this first year, let's have just the men go nude. We'll see how it goes. We can do it differently next year."
"What an outstanding idea," said the professor. "It's sure to provoke robust discussion about the different ways we treat the sexes. It will set the university apart from all the other Nude Day events. Probably get us a lot of media attention!" The professor was almost giddy over the prospect.
