After receiving academic sponsorship from the University Honors Program, FemSex, a weekly student workshop centered on the discussion of female sexuality and reproduction, is returning to Marquette’s campus this fall. The program underwent scrutiny last year and eventually lost support from university administration.
FemSex raised controversy last winter after some Marquette donors, faculty and alumni asked University President the Rev. Scott Pilarz why it was allowed on campus, wondering if the workshop's content was appropriate for a Catholic and Jesuit university. According to its syllabus, FemSex involves “discussions, activities, and individual exercises (designed to) explore what it means to take ownership of one’s own sexuality, body, pleasure, language, and education.”
After reviewing the FemSex syllabus, Pilarz and former Provost John Pauly decided to withdraw university sponsorship in Febr...