BDSM whips up debate on campus

Students and faculty discussed the merits and implications of a chartered Bondage Dominance, Sadomasochism (BDSM) club Thursday. The club has seen two years of controversy regarding the ratification of its charter.

Faculty members of the panel included Physics Professor John Scofield, Professor of Politics and Law Ronald Kahn, Assistant Professor of Women's Studies Diana Grossman-Kahn and Associate Professor of Biology Roger Laushman. The fifth member of the panel was a student representative, the founder of the original Oberlin BDSM, who requested to remain anonymous. College senior Amie Ely organized and moderated the discussion.

In Thursday's discussion, Kahn stressed the fact that the group's charter states explicitly that it will "exclude demonstrations and play parties of any kind."

He pointed out that a common argument against the charter's approval was one that pointed out the dangers of some BDSM practices. "That line of reasoning can be used to stop sports at the college: field hockey, football and even worse, gymnastics because that has a higher level of risk," he said.

Kahn conceded the point that public approval of the BDSM charter might reduce donations to Financial Aid made by wealthy benefactors. He added that, should it be proposed, he would support the establishment of a Hitler youth club or any other group, so long as it only wished to exercise its right to free speech.

Scofield strongly opposed Kahn on BDSM. He said the ratification of their charter may alienate alumni and prospective students. "In particular, it will make it more difficult to recruit Christian students, athletes, science students and African American students, many of whom place a high value on Church and family," he said.

"Sadomasochism is violent and degrading, and it is totally alien to the Christian ideals that I espouse and upon which this institution was founded long ago," Scofield said.

Scofield also rejected the argument that the BDSM union would promote diversity on campus. "This just demonstrates the silliness with which we toss around the word 'diversity.' We can also become more diverse by recruiting more pedophiles and necrophiliacs," he said.

Grossman-Kahn addressed the audience about BDSM concepts and practices. "I just don't like to see people entering lightly into, or creating, experiences whose effects may lasting or cumulative." Grossman-Kahn recalled to the audience her experience as a psychotherapist dealing with hundreds of victims of sexual and physical abuse in and around Lorain County.

Laushman spoke in favor of the organization. He felt that many things that young people are exposed to today might have offended the conservatism of his peers when he was student.

"It's a very wide spectrum of activity from people essentially having harmless fun, and I think for that reason there needs to be some education," he said.

The last speaker was the student representative, a college junior. She said the group would invite members of the Sexual Assault Support Team to discuss dangerous situations that may arise during BDSM exercise.

She also said the group would build up its own research library, videos and internet resources. She finished by stressing the difference between such practices as torture and auto-erotic asphyxiation and those of BDSM. "When someone strangles himself while masturbating and dies, that's not BDSM, that's suicide," she said.

The Student Life Committee (SLC) was asked to approve the charter Dec. 5, 1996, after its revocation.

It was then brought to the attention of general body of faculty governance by an SLC sub-committee who obtained the charter from the Student Senate. At the 1996 meeting, members of the SLC asked some of its members to meet with the College attorney because of liability and safety concerns.

The subcommittee recommended that the charter be passed, so long as it adhered to its perported function of educating students on BDSM, not enacting BDSM. The issue is set to be discussed by the SLC again in coming weeks. It is likely that it will be passed over to the meeting of the General Faculty for consideration.

Adding to the debate was a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer written by columnist Dick Feagler which quoted Scofield about the dangers involved in some BDSM practices.

Enraptured: Students and faculty packed King 306 Thursday to discuss the chartering of the BDSM club. Students were divided as to whether the school should charter the group. (photo by Heidi Good)