Sex Information Committee

The 1973 formation of the Sex Information Committee on campus is a landmark event. The committee was responsible for assisting students in their understanding of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and contraception. The committee was initially started by students seeking to work with local Family Planning agencies to further their peers education. The Pioneer sarcastically called out the Sex Information Committee as seeing “the need to provide information to entering freshmen, not to mention the ignorant remainder of the Whitman community, on the dangers and horrors which may precipitate from sexual activity.” While the group may well have had conservative ties, the formation of the Sex Information Committee marks the first time that an administration sponsored discussion of sex is visible.

1973-08-03