Sexual Science

Spring 2002 SSSS Regional Conferences

Western Region Conference
Manhattan Beach, California
April 4 - 7, 2002

Sexual Paradigms: Challenging Our Thinking On Critical Topics is the theme for this year's SSSS Western Region Annual Conference.

By shaping our vocabulary and assumptions, our paradigms determine what we can know -- the questions we can ask, the answers we can find, the meanings we give our experiences and data. Join today's sharpest minds in exploring sexology's predominant paradigms and their effect on our work.

Plenary sessions include:

The History of Nymphomania; Same-sex Behavior in Nonhuman Primates: Sexual orientation or sexual preference?; Power Dynamics in Sexual Relationships: Does "consent" need redefining?; and Children of Gay Parents are Different: Now what does it mean?

For more Western Region Conference information see the WR Website.

Midcontinent Region Conference
Big Rapids, Michigan
June 13 - June 16, 2002

The Annual Midcontinent Region Conference for this spring is entitled, SEX and the BRAIN: Theories, Data, and Politics and will be held at Ferris State University in northern Michigan.

Headlines proclaim new findings linking brain anatomy and physiology to sexual orientation, to sex drive and desire, and to gender differences in sexual attitudes and behavior. Which of these claims are supported by data and which are exaggerated hype? What are the latest research findings? What are the social and political implications?

Join your professional colleagues for a weekend of stimulating discussion on sex and the brain and other sexuality-related topics in this beautiful, calm setting on the edge of Manistee National Forest. And, yes, just like in 1992 there will be a fun canoe trip and barbecue!

For more information see the Midcontinent Meeting Web site.

From the President

Introducing SSSS President, Milton Diamond ...

I personally find it difficult to continue as if little has changed since 9/11. These are indeed troubled times which occupy a good bit of my daily thoughts. And when I compare the status of the world at large with the microcosm of my life, my activities seem to come off on the short end. But having been born and raised during the depression and World War II, I know that times can get better. And related to our profession as sexologists I also know that we bring to the world many features to counter the narrowness and myopic mindset of the fundamentalist terrorists. In fact, it is what we advocate as a professional society and what many of us do personally -- teach and do research on sexuality -- that is particularly irksome to the Islamic terrorist fundamentalists and fundamentalists of other religions as well.

We advocate and teach about the social equality of men and women. We believe and teach in the right of consensual marriage and most of us believe and teach of the acceptability of behavior models aside from that of heterosexuality. Most of us don't think that homosexuality or cross-dressing or transsexuality should be punished and most of us accept that family planning and abortion should be a personal decision. Moreover, we believe it is not only acceptable but obligatory and justifiable that we do research in attempts to learn features of sexuality which may not only be crucial to society but to satisfy curiosity. To fundamentalists who think all is settled by their narrow interpretation of ancient words, our work is threatening. It is the freedom to follow personal views of sex that our enemy wishes to destroy along with many other aspects of Western ways of life.

Amidst such thoughts, I am proud to have been elected President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. As the oldest sex research organization in the United States, I feel particular humility considering all the fine people who have held the post in the past. I request all members of the society to help me in furthering our organization's goals and potential for the future so this administration can make its own mark. Together with Executive Director David Fleming, the SSSS Board of Directors and our various committees, I will do what I can to make your membership in SSSS worthwhile.

In an attempt to better SSSS, your Executive Committee has formed two Task Forces. A "Future Task Force" has been charged with looking into ways that our Society might better serve its members and enhance the society for the future. The Chairperson for this Task Force is Janet Hyde. A "Finance Task Force," with Walter Bockting as its Chairperson has been charged with looking at ways to improve our societies financial status for the present and the long term.

A third major Committee has also been appointed and that is the "Program Committee" for the November 2002 meeting in Montreal. This committee has a hard act to follow. Past President Michael Ross and Program and Meeting Chairs, Mary Bontorin and David McWhirter did a great job in forging a meeting satisfactory for its location and scope with sufficient highlights to please most attendees. Without doubt, the main feature of the conference was the appearance and presentation of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher. With the conference theme "Sex and Technology," his appearance via satellite transmission seemed appropriate. His message was music to our ears with his call to action "to promote sexual health and responsible sexual behavior." We can be proud that SSSS Past Presidents Eli Coleman,Janet Hyde and Michael Ross were instrumental in much of the Surgeon General's report contents and final shape.

[The Surgeon General's] message was music to our ears ... a call to action
"to promote sexual health and responsible sexual behavior."

The theme of our upcoming 2002 conference is "Unresolved Controversies: Sex Questions in Search of Resolution." It will be in exciting Montreal and be a meeting to which our Canadian colleagues will be full participants as attendees and presenters. Joanne Rouleau of the University of Montreal will be the Canadian co-chair and Brian Gladue of the University of Cincinnati will be the U.S. co-chair. In this way, we hope to have good representation from both sides of the border. One special feature planned for the conference is a session in which Keith Sigmundson and David Reimer (John/Joan) both from Canada and I will discuss his case and what it means for the nature -- nurture argument and the treatment of children born with ambiguous genitalia. For this session we will allow the audience full opportunity to ask questions. This is the first time that David will be presenting himself to a live audience. As probably among the best known cases in the sexology literature this will be a unique opportunity for all present.

I would like to encourage all of you to begin making plans not only to attend the Montreal meeting but to bring other colleagues as well. And certainly, I invite each of you to submit your own research for presentation on the program.

Last, I would like to leave you with a hope for my tenure as your president. I would like it to encourage your pride in sexology as a professional field where it is fully recognized that social problems of population, STDs and sexual abuse and personal joys like fulfilled marriages or social contracts and self confidence and enjoyment for individuals are all made better by good sex research and responsible sex education. It is my firm belief that sexologists are the best professionals to further these aims.

Milton "Mickey" Diamond
diamond@hawaii.edu

Society Updates

SSSS Fall Student Research Grant Award Recipient
Nicole Merritt, a doctoral student at Indiana University is the recipient of the most recent SSSS Student Research Award. The research is entitled: "Effects of Acute Ethanol Consumption on Sexual Arousal and Sexual Risk Taking." The research investigates the role of acute alcohol consumption on sexual arousal, both physiological and subjective and the role that each plays in modulating intent to engage in sexual risk taking.

Nicole attended Trinity University in San Antonio and Indiana University for her undergraduate degree. She is involved with The Kinsey InstituteProgram. She is a graduate student in the IU Department of Psychology.

SSSS Board of Directors and Regional Officers 2001-2002

National Directors & Officers

Eastern Region
Jon Knowles,* President
Ron Moglia, Ed.D., Representative
Herbert Samuels, Ph.D., Representative

Midcontinent Region
John DeLamater, Ph.D.,* President
Robert Hatfield, Ph.D., Representative
Bean Robinson, Ph.D., Representative

Western Region
Janice Epp, Ph.D.,* President
David Hall, Ph.D., Representative
Anne Lawrence, M.D., Representative

International
Osmo Kontula, Ph.D., Representative
E. Sandra Byers, Ph.D., Representative

* indicates member of Executive Committee

Regional Officers

Eastern Region
Jon Knowles, President
Jon Knowles, President-Elect
Ron Moglia, Ed.D., Past President
Coralie Rodriguez, M.A., Secretary
Samantha Williams, Ph.D., Treasurer
Ron Moglia, Ed.D., Representative
Herb Samuels, Ph.D., Representative

Midcontinent Region
John DeLamater, Ph.D., President
Michael Young, Ph.D., President-Elect
Robert Friar, Ph.D., Past President
Cybil Hosek, M.A., Secretary
Monica Moore, Ph.D., Treasurer
Bean Robinson, Ph.D., Representative
Robert Hatfield, Ph.D., Representative

Western Region
Janice Epp, Ph.D., President
Stella Resnick, Ph.D., President-Elect
Carol Ellison, Ph.D., Past President
Vena Blanchard, Secretary
Erica Neuman, M.S., Treasurer
Anne Lawrence, M.D., Representative
David Hall, Ph.D., Representative

Wired

Sexuality Related Websites of Interest . . .

International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)
ISID is committed to improving the care of patients with infectious diseases, the training of clinicians and researchers in infectious diseases and microbiology, and the control of infectious diseases around the world. They provide paid fellowships, publish the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, and provide an annual international conference. Check out the Web site: www.isid.org

Sexuality Web Site for College Students
Sexuality educator and SSSS member, Sandra L. Caron launched a new advice Web site. Her site offers advice about the realities of college life in the areas of sex, love and dating. Users can participate in weekly polls, find links to other important sexuality sites and browse a helpful glossary of terms and useful books. Students can also submit questions to be selected for the "Question of the Week" feature. The URL is: www.CollegeSexTalk.com

Emergency Contraception
This Web site is provided by the Office of Population Research at Princeton University. It is designed to provide accurate information about emergency contraception and a directory of clinicians willing to prescribe emergency contraceptives in your area. The site has no connection whatsoever with any companies that profit from the sale of EC. The Web site is: www.not-2-late.com

The Center for Sexuality and Religion (CSR)
The mission of CSR is to advance a positive relationship between sexuality and spirituality. They do this by providing clergy with information, education, training, and skills that foster and advocate the attitudes and values for sexual and spiritual health and by facilitating good sexual and spiritual health among the clergy themselves. Find out more on their Web site: www.ctrsr.org

Briefly Noted

New Member Resource

Sex Matters for Women: A Complete Guide
to Taking Care of Your Sexual Self
By
Dennis Sugrue, Ph.D., et. al.

$17.95 US (paperback)
$32.00 US (hardcover)
Guilford Publications, Inc.

" This is the most comprehensive book on women's sexuality I have
ever read. It provides all the information women need to take care
of their sexual selves ... It is a 'must read' for women of all ages. "

-- Beverly Whipple, PhD, SSSS Pres-Elect

Educational Opportunities

Advocates for Youth Fifth Annual European Study Tour will run May 24 - June 10, 2002. Participants explore and identify strategies, programs, and policies in the Netherlands, France, and Germany that have influenced adolescent sexual behavior.

For more information contact:

Advocates for Youth Web site:
www.advocatesforyouth.org
Application Deadline: February 1, 2002

The Annual Syracuse University "Human Sexuality in Europe" course will be June 22 - July 19, 2002. Travel from London to Amsterdam to Stockholm to meet and learn from various authorities in the field of human sexuality. For more info contact:

DIPA, Syracuse University
Ph. 315-443-9420 / 1-800-251-9674
Email: DIPAsum@summail.syr.edu
http://sumweb.syr.edu/dipa/summer
Application Deadline: March 15, 2002

Opportunity Alert!!!

Summer Graduate Training Institute --The Kinsey Institute, June 9 - 16, 2002
"Interventions for High-Risk Sexual Behavior: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation"

The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction is hosting the second in a series of National Institute of Mental Health-funded summer institutes to provide research training in human sexuality. The second summer institute, "Interventions for High-Risk Sexual Behavior: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation" will be held June 9-16, 2002. The program will involve eight external faculty, as well as IU faculty and Kinsey staff, all of them active researchers in the area of HIV/AIDS and high-risk sexual behavior. Travel, accommodation, and the institute registration fee will be provided for 25 graduate students (including up to five international students) for the week long program. Students may enroll for three graduate credits, although fees will be the participant's responsibility. Preference will be given to graduate students but post-doctoral and other researchers may apply. Students from minority groups, under-represented in this area of research, are strongly encouraged to apply. Students who attended the 2001 Summer Institute are encouraged to apply; evaluations of their 2001 final research proposals will be considered. For further information or to obtain an application, visit the Kinsey Web site: www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/graduate/summer.html or contact Cynthia Graham, Phone: 812-855-7686 / Email: cygraham@indiana.edu

Application Deadline: February 1, 2002

PUBLIC POLICY ASSOCIATE, SIECUS

Duties and Responsibilities:

Serve as vital member of SIECUS' public policy staff and work collaboratively as a member of a team.

Monitor and analyze state and federal legislative, administrative, and judicial activities in identified policy areas, including, making recommendations for SIECUS policy activities.

Develop and implement policymaker education strategies to further SIECUS policy priorities.

Responsible for building and maintaining strategic and ongoing relationships with selected elected officials and their staff.

Assist Senior Public Policy Associate with state coalition outreach, partnership building, and providing technical assistance to state and local partners to further SIECUS' public policy goals and priorities.

Prepare responses, letters of support/opposition, and policymaker education pieces as well as public education materials.

Assist with establishment of the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education (NCSSE) State-Based Policy Subcommittee and in furthering NCSSE's mission at the state and local levels.

Maintain mailing and contact lists for policymakers, Congressional staff, administrative officials, and organizations.

Represent SIECUS at relevant policy meetings and promote SIECUS' positions and policy priorities to Congress, the Administration, government agencies, and colleague organizations.

Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree preferred.

At least two years experience in public policy work (preferably around reproductive and sexual health) or equivalent experience in a related area, Capitol Hill experience strongly preferred.

Understanding of the legislative process and the ability to access and research legislative data/information.

Strong writing, verbal, and research skills.

Strong interest in and commitment to advocating for sexual and reproductive health.

To apply send cover letter, resume, three names of reference, and a writing sample to:

Stacy Weibley, Senior Public Policy Associate, SIECUS, 1706 R St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Central Oregon Community College Instructor of Health and Human Performance
Application Due: 2/21/2002 · Starting Date: Position available beginning Fall 2002

This position includes teaching core health education classes that could include Health and Fitness, Fit/First Aid, Stress Management, Human Sexuality, Prevention of Chronic Disease. Requires Master's degree in Health or related field and a minimum of two years' teaching experience. Must have current First Aid and CPR certifications. Prefer preparation to the level of the Ph.D. or recent ABD in public health or closely related health field. Starting salary range is $34,000 - $42,000 per academic year.
Required COCC application and job description are on the Central Oregon Community College Web site: www.cocc.edu/hr. Application Deadline: February 21, 2002

Assistant Professor of Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy
Application Due: Open Until Filled

The position includes graduate and undergraduate teaching, supervising internships and practica, advising, developing an active research program and providing appropriate departmental, university and professional service.

QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. in counseling, psychology, or related field with a strong emphasis on family studies/family therapy or related area. Preference will be given to candidates with evidence of teaching effectiveness and a strong potential for research and publication. Teaching experience in some of the following fields is preferable: counseling, human sexuality, marriage and the family. Screening will begin January 1, 2002, and continue until the position is filled. Submit a detailed letter of application (including teaching and research interests), a vita listing qualifications and experience, three letters of recommendation and evidence of teaching effectiveness. Applications should be mailed to: UNLV Assistant Professor of Counseling Search Committee, Attn: Dr. Patricia A. Markos, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453045, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3045 USA. For specific questions please contact Professor Patricia Markos. Email: markos@ccmail.nevada.edu / Phone: 702-895-3185.

More Announcements

WAS Gold Medal Committee Seeks Nominations

The World Association of Sexology would like your help in finding qualified candidates for the Gold Medal Prize 2003.

All nominess should have made lifelong achievements within the field of sexology. If you would like to nominate someone please submit the following materials:

Your name and contact information

Updated CV for nominee

Names and contact information for two well-known sexologists who support the nomination.

A short resumé of the nominees achievements

For more information or to submit nominations contact:

Lillemor Rosenqvist, Chair of the WAS Gold Medal Committee. Email: lillemorrosenqvist@swipnet.se

ANNUAL REVIEW OF SEX RESEARCH

COMPLETE SET · VOLUMES 1-10 is now available at very special, extremely low rates!

MEMBER PRICE - $200.00
NON-MEMBER PRICE - $300.00

Individual back issues also available at special rates:

$25.00 each for Members
$35.00 each for Non-Members

Place your order with the SSSS office today!

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
P.O. Box 416
Allentown, PA 18105-0416 USA

Events, Meetings, etc.

1st Conference from the Campaign for "A New View of Women's Sexual Problems" entitled, The New "Female Sexual Dysfunction:" Promises, Prescriptions and Profits. March 9, 2002, San Francisco, California. Co-Sponsored by Association for Women in Psychology, SFSU Program in Human Sexuality, National Women's Health Network, Seattle Institute for Sex Therapy, Education & Research, Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Center for Lesbian Health at UCSF, UCSF Gender Equity Program, and APA Committee on Women in Psychology. Contact: Leonore Tiefer, Phone: 212-533-2774 / Fax: 212-254-5922 / Email: LTiefer@mindspring.com / Web site: www.fsd-alert.org

10th International Congress on Infectious Diseases, March 11 - 14, 2002, Singapore, Malaysia. Contact: 10th ICID Congress Secretariat, MP Asia Pte Ltd, 20 Kallang Avenue, Level 2, Pico Creative Centre, Singapore 339411. Phone: +65-297-2822 / Fax: +65-296-2670 / Email: icid@mpgroupasia.com / Web site: www.isid.org/10th_icid/

27th Annual Meeting of the Society For Sex Therapy And Research (SSTAR), March 14 - 17, 2002, Las Vegas, Nevada. Contact: Bill Maurice, SSTAR Program Chair, Division of Sexual Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, UBC Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BCÊV6T 2A1 Canada. Phone: 604-822-7220 / Fax: 604-822-7756 / Email: maurice@interchange.ubc.ca / Web site: www.sstarnet.org

amfAR 14th National HIV/AIDS Update Conference: Prevention, Treatment and Care: Forging an Integrated Response, March 19 - 22, 2002, San Francisco, California. Contact: Jennifer Attonito, amfAR, 120 Wall Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10005-3902 USA. Phone: 212-806-1631 / FAX: 212-806-1608 / Email: nauc@amfar.org / Web site: www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/nauc/index.html

SSSS Western Region Annual Conference: Sexual Paradigms: Challenging Our Thinking on Critical Topics, April 4 - 7, 2002, Manhattan Beach, California. Contact: Marty Klein, Program Chair. Phone: 650-856-6533 / Email: Klein@SexEd.org / Conference Web site: www.sssswr.org

Sex Therapy Training Workshop, April 26 - 27, 2002, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Sponsored by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender & Reproduction. Faculty: Stan Althof, PhD, John Bancroft, MD, and Julia Heiman, PhD. For more information contact: John Bancroft, Email: jbancrof@indiana.edu / Web site: www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/services/sxtherapy.html

AASECT 34th Annual Conference: Advances in Sexuality -- The Hottest Topics, May 1 - 5, 2002, South Beach Miami, Florida. Contact: AASECT, P.O. Box 5488, Richmond, Virginia 23220 USA. Phone: 804-644-3288 / Email: aasect@mediaone.net / Web site: www.aasect.org

SSSS Midcontinent Region Annual Conference: SEX and the BRAIN: Theories, Data, and Politics, June 13 - 16, 2002, Big Rapids, Michigan. Contact: Program Co-Chairs, Robert Friar. Phone: 231-591-2542 / Email: friar@ferris.edu or Charlene Muehlenhard. Phone: 785-864-9860 / Email: charlene@ku.edu / Conference Web site: www.indiana.edu/%7Esexquest/ssss-mr/page4.html

Gender, Sexuality and Law II: An International Conference, June 28 - 30, 2002, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. For program and registration information contact: The Law Department, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom ST5 5BG. Phone: +44(0)1782 583218 / Fax: +44 (0)1782 583228 / Email: GSL2002@Keele.ac.uk / Web site: www.Keele.ac.uk/depts/la/GSL2002.htm

The 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality: Unresolved Controversies: Sex Questions in Search of Resolution, November 7 - 10, 2002, Montreal, Canada. Contact: Program Chairs, Brian Gladue or Joanne Rouleau, c/o SSSS, P.O. Box 416, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18105 USA. Phone: 610-530-2483 / Email: thesociety@inetmail.att.net / Web site: www.sexscience.org [deadline for submissions is March 15, 2002]

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