Sex column fulfills vital campus need

We are a collegiate community, and with that comes a liberal outlook. How liberal is teaching the public about safe sex, though? It is being taught in middle schools, is it not? We are adults at Northern and are able to responsibly approach adult topics such as sex. As adults we know that ignoring something (sexual practices) does not make it go away.

Mercier teaches those engaging in sexual actions how to engage responsibly. For those curious or unwilling to ask certain questions pertaining to their sexual relations, they are able to obtain answers. As far as sex being a college norm, yes it is, but I believe that it may be a norm outside of college as well. Again, why ignore something that we know exists? The best approach is to learn where the problems lie and try and educate people about them.

Mercier teaches the safest and most responsible ways to engage in desirable actions that will occur regardless of you wanting to think about it or not. I doubt that she would disagree that the only foolproof way to avoid STIs and unplanned pregnancies is being chaste. Also, I never heard her label a virgin a prude. The North Wind is the student paper, but I am aware that other members of the community read it as well. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. These topics are nothing new and nothing to shy away from.

For example, Yale University started a sex column in 2002 that confronted topics no less racy than that of Mercier’s. Perhaps to your surprise, even Foxnews.com has their own “sexpert.”

To suggest that The North Wind doesn’t report about student groups and activities is absurd. I feel quite in tune to what is happening on the NMU campus on a weekly basis and yes, sex is one of the many things that happen here and I’m not afraid to admit it. These articles provoke topics of discussion while educating at the same time. What better formula for an article is there than that? Mercier’s articles don’t suggest being loose, rather if you’re going to do it, be safe.

It’s time to hear some more from Lyndsay.

Hans Gottsacker

junior, furniture design

Folklife Festival enjoyable for all ages

Having attended the 2009 Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival, I would like to express my appreciation for the Beaumier Heritage Center and NMU for birthing this event. Most especially I wish to comment on the quality and breadth of the opening concert. The professionals John Williams and Dean Magraw delivered rich music that had even my 10- and 12-year-old daughters enraptured. The Finnish American All-Stars and the talented elder, Les Ross, Sr. both inspired and entertained.

My children commented that they would like to learn Finnish and hope they are “as cool” as an 80-plus year old. I leave the opening act for last because the Native American group “Ditibasin” blew me away. These unassuming young men led me to uncharacteristic streaming tears from the first drum beats.

I did not understand the Native words, nor did I know that sadly, one musician’s own daughter had died, but my subconscious knew. I’d like to offer my condolences to that father, and my hope that he felt moved also by the rhythms of true interconnection, universal grief and joy from the audience that night.

I would invite everyone to attend the Folklife Festival next year. It was, for myself, the best therapy I had all week.

Tonja Acker-Richards

Ishpeming