Bondage, S&M, And A College Chaplain – Rhodes College Today – Bound And Tied In A Mess that Could Have And Should Have Been Avoided
Image Credit: rhodes.edu
Disclaimer: Bill Townsend, CollegeRover.Com CEO is a Rhodes College alumnus and past president of the Rhodes College International Alumni Association.
By The College Rover –
THE BASICS
Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, has gotten itself into a steamy situation after a mid-level staff member attempted to host an unsanctioned “BDSM Workshop” on campus. College Chaplain Beatrix Weil had scheduled a local dominatrix to present at the college’s Interfaith Lounge before the event was cancelled by the college. It is unclear exactly what the content of the workshop would have included.
An activist alumna has helped propel press about this from regional into national notoriety, including criticism from major conservative publication The National Review.
More interesting is the extensive list of schools where BDSM seems to be accepted – and of note are conservative bastions such as the University of Notre Dame (Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett graduated from both Notre Dame Law School and undergraduate from Rhodes College), University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M.
For a list of universities that have hosted BDSM events and with BDSM clubs (not comprehensive) see the bottom of this article.
COLLEGE ROVER TEAM THOUGHTS:
Let’s get this off the ground, here: this never should have been a national news story. Was it a controversial move? Definitely. Was it a dumb move on the part of Rhodes’s chaplain? In execution, most certainly. Is this worth a national conversation? Not at all. At most, this should have been a flier seen and ignored by a few kids and an event attended by almost no one. College students have much better things to do on a Friday night than awkwardly sit around a classroom listening to a random person explain kinky sex (well, maybe not everyone….)
To concede something to The National Review’s moral outrage, the move did seem deliberately provocative. Setting aside the fact that Chaplain Weil herself was quoted in the Review’s article as celebrating her first “angry parent phone call” from a similar class she held before, the framing of the workshop as specifically a course on BDSM from a local dominatrix rather than the more low key and imminently more sensible seminar on consent and boundaries within non-normative sexual scenarios (importantly emphasizing safety and consent rather than kink alone) as well as the decision to host the event in the Interfaith Lounge was obviously intended to provoke some kind of outrage. What Weil couldn’t have expected was how well that was going to work.
But that’s where our agreement with the National Review begins and ends. Rhodes College should absolutely teach about safe sex and teach people how to navigate consent no matter the scenario. And we can say this without even mentioning that, included in the National Review’s criticism of Weil, was her association with gay pride and LGBTQ+ organizations. Weil stepped in it big time with this one, and she should have known that this would have blown up in her face, especially considering her position as college chaplain, the proposed location of the event, Rhodes’ being in the south, and the provocative framing of the event, but at its core, the event could have been useful and even admirable had it been handled with real tact rather than a fairly undisguised desire to instigate.
BILL’S THOUGHTS:
First of all, I should mention (again) that I’m an alumnus of Rhodes College and President Emeritus of the Rhodes College Alumni Association.
First thought:
Should a dominatrix have been scheduled to come and speak?
No – this does not fit in with the vision of Rhodes College:
“Rhodes College aspires to graduate students with a lifelong passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and the world.”
See below for details:
Further, the Office of the Chaplain at Rhodes has a loosely defined role that does not seem to include a dominatrix:
“The Office of the Chaplain fosters and enriches the religious and spiritual life of the Rhodes College community. You can contact the Chaplain for advising, pastoral care, conversation, meditation tips, story-sharing, life planning, or to discuss your spiritual and religious needs.”
See below for details:
https://www.rhodes.edu/student-life/get-involved/office-chaplain
According to sources on Rhodes College campus, Chaplain Beatrix is also well-regarded by all students as a voice of care, concern, and compassion.
Sorry Rhodes, stick to what you do well – great education, cool vibe, gorgeous campus, and graduates who can make a difference in the world!
Second thought:
People have sex (I know it is a shocking concept!) – and often, that is prior to or sometimes outside of traditional marriage, especially at colleges and universities. Education about sex and related consequences (pregnancy, STD’s, and emotional and psychological impacts) is paramount to a healthier society.
Many colleges take a proactive approach called ”Cookies and Condoms” to sex education – see below from the University of Nebraska:
Sex education is valuable, but in my opinion, I’m struggling to find the value in education on BDSM specifically at Rhodes or any of the other colleges referenced at the end of this article. What about a 17-year-old first-year student on campus wandering in? I think we can all agree it is not okay to have a BDSM workshop in high school, right? So how do we endorse one three months later for students who might still be the same age. Regardless, the chaplain and whomever else approved of this at Rhodes should have known better than to try this without expecting massive press and backlash.
Third Thought:
So what was the objective? Education about consent? Probably yes. Take away the stigma about having these conversations? Probably yes. Beyond that it is hard to determine.
Rhodes has had serious turnover of senior staff in the last five years and at the same time has been struggling to define what the college’s goals are for educational excellence, diversity, traditional liberal arts and sciences, liberal politics and how to effectively and best educate students for the “modern” world. And, achieving this without alienating more centrist and conservative students, parents, faculty/staff, and alumni has been a challenge.
Jennifer Collins is in her second year as President of Rhodes College – her education and experience is possibly the strongest of ANY Rhodes President in the past 100 years.
https://www.rhodes.edu/about-rhodes/office-president
According to publicly available documents, President Collins is implementing a new strategic plan for the College to prepare Rhodes for the next 100 years.
https://www.rhodes.edu/about-rhodes/strategic-plan
Fourth Thought:
This has been pushed into national prominence by an activist alumna who in this incarnation of her life is highly moral and strongly opposed to ANY activities that deviate from her interpretation of conservative politics and religion. Just as I personally question the motives of the Rhodes staff who approved the event, I also question the objectives of the alumna – is she just promoting her own self-interest and consulting firm? One can wonder?
Lastly (thank goodness) – as a society, we have an amazingly diverse culture that has been tolerant, successful, and productive. In the last 200+ years we have achieved so much – compare life in the USA to the average citizen in Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, or Argentina – religious dictatorships, unending religious and ethnic civil wars, hyperinflation – we in the USA are much better off.
Of course, there are many milestones to achieve including better economic and educational opportunities for everyone, elimination of racial stereotypes and barriers to success, and providing a safe/healthy environment for future generations. Unfortunately, the hard Left and hard Right both seem to see the world through divisive lenses where no accommodation to the middle is acceptable. Whether it is a BDSM speaker or hypocritical false outrage at same, how do either get us to a better place?
BDSM Events:
Texas A&M University<https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/student/coursedocs/nlogon/download/9459184>
University of Texas at Austin (<https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/student/coursedocs/nlogon/download/9459184>covers BDSM positively in a course)<https://news.emory.edu/stories/2017/01/er_spring_courses_explore_evidence/campus.html>
UT Knoxville<https://www.campusreform.org/article/ut-knoxville-sex-week-to-feature-bdsm-and-butt-stuff-workshops/7292>
University of Alabama – Birmingham<https://www.uab.edu/studentaffairs/news/student-experience/uab-sex-week-begins-this-week-with-events-advocating-sexual-health-and-education>
Vanderbilt University<https://www.vanderbilt.edu/womenscenter/news/sex-ed-healthy-relationships-week>
Sewanee<https://thesewaneepurple.org/2022/04/13/sex-in-the-dark-illuminates-sexual-anxieties-on-campus/>
Elon University<https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2011/04/12/pride-week-unc-medical-student-to-discuss-sexual-health-april-12/>
Furman University<https://thepaladin.news/articles/2022/12/01/what-really-happened-at-sextacular-a-response-to-the-national-review> (included BDSM resources at sexual health fair)
Tulane University<https://events.tulane.edu/content/bdsm-101>
Washington & Lee University<https://ringtumphi.net/5825/news/students-host-halloween-themed-sexual-health-awareness-week/>
Rice University<https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2023/02/sex-week-heats-up-campus>
University of Richmond<https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbc7e-GLUW3/>
William & Mary<https://education.wm.edu/currentstudents/studorgs/csi/newsletters/2021-2022/csi-fall-2021-newsletter.pdf>
Kenyon College<https://www.kenyon.edu/files/resources/kenyon-queer-and-trans-studies-conference-program_.pdf>
Ohio State University<https://www.sexweekatosu.org/2020-sex-week-events>
Saint Mary’s College<https://www.saintmarys.edu/files/GWS%20newsletter%20spring%202015.pdf>
Emory College (covers BDSM positively in a course)<https://news.emory.edu/stories/2017/01/er_spring_courses_explore_evidence/campus.html>
University of Texas at Austin (<https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/student/coursedocs/nlogon/download/9459184>covers BDSM positively in a course)<https://news.emory.edu/stories/2017/01/er_spring_courses_explore_evidence/campus.html>
University of South Florida St. Petersburg<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
Case Western University<https://observer.case.edu/sexpopalooza-excited-students-to-discuss-safe-and-consensual-sex/>
California Polytechnic<https://www.humboldt.edu/events/diversity-inclusion?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D1001406533>
Oberlin College<https://www.oberlin.edu/events/consensual_kink_and_bdsm>
Pace University<https://web.archive.org/web/20170701042656/http://www.pace.edu/mypace/be-well-nyc>
Princeton University (covers BDSM positively in a course<https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/diversity-inclusion/princeton-bdsm-decolonization-electives/>)
University of Michigan<https://www.thecollegefix.com/campus-sex-group-earns-students-college-credit/>
CLUBS:
● University of Notre Dame<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Notre_Dame>
● Texas State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_State_University>
● Grinnell College<https://www.grinnell.edu/node/4106>
● Emory University<https://emorywheel.com/our-opinion-lets-talk-about-sex-week/>
● Washington University in St Louis<https://www.campusprideindex.org/campuses/details/153?campus=washington-university-in-st.-louis>
● Kent State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_University>[40]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Ohio State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_University>[44]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Case Western Reserve University<https://observer.case.edu/new-campus-group-provides-a-place-to-discuss-non-normative-sexuality-and-intimacy/>
● Arizona State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_State_University>
● California State University, Northridge<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_University,_Northridge>[29]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Columbia University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University>: Conversio Virium<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversio_Virium>[30]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[31]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[32]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Cornell University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_University>[33]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Harvard University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University>[34]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[35]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[36]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[37]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Harvey Mudd College<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Mudd_College>[38]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Iowa State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_University>: Cuffs<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuffs_(Iowa_State_University)>[39]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Massachusetts Institute of Technology<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology>[1]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Mount Holyoke College<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Holyoke_College>[41]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Molloy University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molloy_University>[42]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Northwestern University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_University>[43]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Princeton University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_University>[45]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[46]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Reed College<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_College>[47]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● San Francisco State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_State_University>[48]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Stanford University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_University>[49]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Stony Brook University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook_University>[50]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Syracuse University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse_University>[51]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● Tufts University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufts_University>[1]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of California, Berkeley<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley>[52]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of California, Santa Barbara<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Santa_Barbara>[53]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Chicago<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago>[54]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[55]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Connecticut<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Connecticut>[56]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Michigan<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan>[57]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[58]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Minnesota<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Minnesota>[59]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Pennsylvania<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pennsylvania>[1]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Southern California<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Southern_California>[60]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Wisconsin–Madison<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Madison>[61]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>[62]<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
● University of Washington<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Washington>[citation needed<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>]
● Washington State University<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_State_University>
● Washington University in St. Louis<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_University_in_St._Louis>[63<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_with_BDSM_clubs>
I got a good laugh at this article. A great line is > “the Office of the Chaplain at Rhodes has a loosely defined role that does not seem to include a dominatrix”
Good news is that the college had the good sense to cancel it.
That Chaplain is either naive or kinky. She will be remembered for this.
Think about all the ways this can be ridiculed > “Come to Rhodes and major in BDSM”
Does a Christian college want to be known for this?
Do sexual predators hang out at those events?
Shouldn’t a person’s sexual fetishes be kept private?
This alumni almost certainly voted for democrats all his life. His references are amazingly centered on left and far left wing articles. He may well be homosexual or worse. Anyone who condones this type of activity by any “Chaplain” anyplace is anti Christian.