"The impact on campus will be that students who feel outside of the sexual mainstream will now have a safe space to talk about their interests, to feel socially validated, and to build a community."
Recently, the Harvard College Munch gained approval as one of the university’s newest clubs. What started out as a few friends talking over dinner has now grown into a membership of 30 strong in little over a year. With their recent acceptance, the group is now free to promote events and recruit new members on campus. Many who are interested in BDSM often feel like they are all alone or isolated. Now with the munch receiving institutional support, students may feel accepted and not on the fringes of college life.
More than just a sex club, the group provides a safe atmosphere to talk and share about all aspects of kinky sex. In an interview with The Crimson, Harvard’s school newspaper, one of the founding members shared that coming out as an official club was worth it because it prompted them to create a safety team. She explained how many times those who have experienced abuse or trauma are afraid to reach out for help because of the fear of being judged. The safety team was developed to bridge the gap and works with college resources to ensure “that they receive help from those who are educated about the kink community."
As students on the campus of one of our nation’s oldest learning institutions find acceptance, they join a short list of BDSM clubs active on college campuses. The oldest of which is Conversio Virium on the campus of Columbia University, which dedicates itself to “the full exploration of BDSM, both in its sexual and spiritual aspects."
In 2003, Iowa State University’s student government allowed funding for a bondage club, calling it a triumph for diversity, according to the Huffington Post. At the University of Minnesota, students can join Kinky U. Tufts Kink, on the campus of Tufts University, is viewed by officials as “filling a void in the dialogue on sex and strives to create an inclusive and healthy sexual community.”
On the campus of the University of Chicago, RACK is a well-known group. RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) holds seminars and lectures on a regular basis with the purpose of raising awareness of kink, promoting acceptance and understanding of BDSM, and also providing a learning environment. RACK, like Harvard, strives to provide a place where members of the community can freely share and learn about safely practicing kink.
While it is unknown if the legitimacy that members of the Harvard Munch now feel will be long lasting, one thing is for sure, they are joining the ranks of many organizations that are making great strides towards raising awareness in all areas of BDSM. Unlike the informal meet and greet munchs of the past, America’s greatest minds are working together to raise awareness of safety while creating a healthy environment for sexual expression on college campuses today.