'Dr. Ruth' talks sex at U. bookstore

The noted author talked about sex and sociology study aids. "There is nothing more interesting than talking about sex!" Ruth Westheimer exclaimed to an amused and captivated audience in the University Bookstore yesterday afternoon. The famous psychosexual therapist was on campus for a discussion about her new videotapes, The Standard Deviants Sociology Parts 1 and 2. The tapes are being marketed as a study aid for sociology students. Her enthusiasm for talking about sex, though, led her to spend only a couple of minutes actually describing the videotapes. College senior Gwen Bennett later commented on Westheimer's tape presentation by saying that it was surprising but reassuring to know that the doctor "has a lot more to offer than sex advice." Westheimer and officials from Cerebellum -- a corporation which has already released 50 other video study aids, with subjects ranging from Spanish to organic chemistry -- stressed the importance of humor in learning. "A lesson taught in humor is a lesson obtained," said Westheimer, a New York University professor and syndicated columnist. Chip Paucek, co-president of Cerebellum, added that humor causes students to relax and a relaxed student learns more. So what do her tapes have to do with sex? Nothing. Westheimer quickly segued into her opinions on her favorite subject -- sex -- by saying that all men should be able to get their women to climax. She then said with a smile that she would utter a word that has "probably never been used in Barnes & Noble before -- orgasm!" She also stressed that sex is not everything in a relationship, that there should definitely be companionship. Westheimer also explained that "sexual eagerness" and "libido" must be there from the beginning of the relationship. At this point, she spent the rest of the discussion giving her views on sexual education by discussing some of the myths still circulating in society about pregnancies. "I think Barnes & Noble should have a condom machine," she suggested. Wharton senior Ann Wang summarized Westheimer's speech by saying, "anytime she speaks, you can't help but stop and listen. She is small physically, but big in what she represents." In the end, Westheimer stressed that everyone should stick to his or her "beliefs and values towards sex." She also let the audience know that her personal motive for talking at colleges like Penn is that she doesn't want to see abortion made illegal again. She reflected upon the difficulties women faced when abortions were outlawed -- including the fact that many women chose to obtain unsanitary illegal abortions -- and stressed that it would be a disaster if history repeated itself. Westheimer said that currently she is working on a book about grandparenting and a documentary about issues on sexuality, which she said would air in December. Last night, though, she said she was looking forward to attending a Planned Parenthood fundraiser.