Spring/Summer 2002
Volume 43 - Issue 2 & 3

Editor, Erica C. Neuman, M.S.
Email: Erica@SexEdMom.com

This year our Annual Meeting includes a truly amazing and diverse lineup of plenary speakers and topics:

WANTED: Exhibitors for Annual SSSS Meeting in Montreal
Do you know someone -- an organization, publisher, corporation, etc. -- who should be exhibiting at our annual meeting? If so, please forward contact information to Sharon McNeely at mcneelys@execpc.com

WANTED: Sponsors and Advertisers for SSSS Annual Meeting
If you have any contacts or suggestions for sponsorship opportunities for our Annual Meeting in Montreal, or advertisers for our preliminary and final program, please contact David Fleming at thesociety@inetmail.att.net or call 610-530-2483.

From the President

SSSS President, Milton Diamond

Sexology's Importance in Society
There is no doubt in my mind that continuing and expanding sexology studies is important and necessary for our society. Priests are being charged with sexual improprieties, writers are accused of protecting sexual deviants, and professors are penalized for writing controversial theories of sexual politics and warned against having sexual relations with their students. The Moral Majority and other conservative groups rile against pornography on television and in music lyrics while politicians from the Democratic and Republican parties engage in adulterous sexual indiscretions. Along with all of this we are warned almost daily of HIV/AIDS, herpes and other STDs as well as about pollution that causes decreasing fertility, potency and orgasmic ability. All this is pointed to along with the deplorable state of sex and gender discrimination and domestic abuse related to sex matters. And these news items and claims are in the New York Times and Washington Post, not just the tabloids. It is a continual wonder to me that we don't have major departments of sexology in every university and at high levels of government. Few other serious subjects aside from war, crime, and a failing economy seem to attract the attention of so many.

With so much territory to cover just what would be an appropriate department of sexology? Their faculties should be broad based and their curriculum multidisciplined. Currently, some university departments such as those of psychology, biology, or sociology do incorporate courses on sexuality. I applaud these programs, but am disappointed we don't see more. I continue to encourage all SSSS members to do what they can to promote moves at their institutions to start a sexology department, if they don't have one already, and volunteer to be a part of one. I cheer on all those schools that do already support sex studies. We recognize the success of programs such as the Kinsey Institute in Indiana, those at the University of California at Northridge and San Francisco, the Department of Health Studies at New York University, and the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. Each, in its own way contributes to the broad field of sexology as do many other programs around the country and elsewhere.

Referencing Sexuality Articles
Over the years, I have been called on to review different manuscripts submitted for publication to various journals. One item that I find particularly vexing is that too often seminal references are omitted. Inclusion of these citations can offer perspective, enhance accuracy and credit those who went before and worked on problems and questions currently being written about. This is a particularly egregious error if the missing citation is of recent vintage but is also a fault if the reference is "an oldie but goodie."

Since computers have become popular and available, new data bases are excellent for offering references to recent articles. However, there are still many articles from before the 1970s and 1980s that are often omitted from standard sources yet deserve mention and reference. In certain areas more than others, books and articles from the first half of the last century are not only still relevant but many are current in their content, analysis and the questions they pose or attempt to answer. For instance one could learn much and pass on a good deal from the theories and thoughts offered by Magnus Hirschfeld, and Alfred Kinsey relative to human sexuality and investigators like Frank Beach and Bob Goy researching animal sexuality. Others, much less known, are also worth mention. As scholars, we lose much of our history if we don't understand or appreciate or at least consider the perspectives and efforts of those that came before.

Researching "Touchy" Sex Topics
In 1990 about two dozen of us contributed to a book on pedophilia edited by Jay Feierman (Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions, 1990, Springer-Verlag: New York.) The book contained chapters which covered some of the most controversial areas within our field. Authors explored aspects of cross-generational sex and presented data from animal and human societies. The writings offered different perspectives on the topic and even included a chapter by an admitted pedophile. The book was one of the outcomes of a conference financed by The Servants of the Paraclete, a Roman Catholic religious order in one of their positive attempts to find ways of dealing with a problem they recognized in society as well as their Church.

This Newsletter will arrive as the old academic term ends and a new one is beginning. I wish all the graduating students "well," the retiring faculty "good health and long life," the remaining faculty and students "close in parking," and everyone a safe and happy summer with visions of meeting friends and hearing great papers at the National/International SSSS meeting in Montreal next November. See you there.

Milton "Mickey" Diamond
diamond@hawaii.edu

The creation of an organized student body within SSSS will work to create as sense of belonging among students and help increase student membership and retention by providing a venue for students to talk about issues that are important to them and to provide them a voice and a sense of ownership. We anticipate that this will generate more revenue for the Society in membership fees and conference attendance. An organized group will also help encourage active student participation in leadership roles and encourage participation in regional leadership and SSSS taskforces as appropriate. More importantly, however, is the increased dialogue and cooperative efforts that will occur between the SSSS membership and SSSS students. We expect positive outcomes from this alliance and we look forward to a bright future within the Society!

Student members can expect to hear more via e-mail in the upcoming months! Each current Regional Rep will be contacting students in their region to promote and encourage individuals to participate by sharing ideas, concerns, and suggestions and solicit names of individuals interested in filling leadership positions.

Individuals interested in obtaining more information or sharing ideas should contact Shelby Blanton, Christina Clark, or Brian Zamboni! Lastly, thanks to all student members who have already shared their ideas, thoughts, and experiences. You helped us to create what we hope will be a successful enterprise! Many thanks to the Board of Directors for recognizing the importance of students to the future of SSSS!

Best wishes,
Shelby Blanton, MA Current Western Region Representative, Email: msb@dana.ucc.nau.edu.
Christina Clark, MA Current Eastern Region Representative, Email: psyscqueen@aol.com.
Brian Zamboni, PhD Current Midcontinent Region Representative, Email: bzambon@wpo.it.luc.edu.

SSSS Spring Student Research Grant Recipient
The 2002 winner is Alessandra Rellini from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology department. The title of her research is, "Physiological Components of Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Childhood Sexual Abuse." Alessandra will receive a $1,000 grant from the Foundation for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and she has been invited to the 2002 annual conference in Montreal to receive her certificate. Congrats Alessandra!

There were 21 submissions in this round. If you would like to apply for a FSSS Student Research Grant please see the online application requirements. Deadline to apply for fall awards is September 1, 2002.

HEROES AMONG US
Robert W. Hatfield, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati

The June 13-16, 2002 MR/ER Conference in Big Rapids, Michigan was one of the best of the scores I've attended, including even our society international meetings, in my 20+ year membership. Bob Friar and Charlene Muehlenhard (Co-Program Chairs) with the support of MR President John DeLamater and the exceptional work of Janet Hyde created a magnificent program of presentations and workshops. Bob Friar, the perfect host, created a wonderful workshop and social events at every turn throughout the meeting for the 100 participants who traveled to Ferris State University.

With only a half-day on Sunday of the conference remaining, Bob Friar had arranged a Saturday evening picnic for us in the beautiful Big Rapids city park on the shore of the Muskegon River. It was to be followed by a short canoe trip down the river after dinner for those who wished to participate. The food was great, but the weather was uncertain with a brief evening shower. Those of us who planned to take the short canoe trip were pretty sure it would be cancelled when the rain began to fall, but the weather suddenly broke and the sun appeared for the first time in a couple of days. Forty five of us loaded aboard a bus to be taken the short trip to the canoe livery.

My wife Deborah and I had been canoeing many times and, at a previous Big Rapids conference ten years earlier had served to help several of our SSSS friends right their boats after tipping over on the smaller Pier Marquette River nearby. (I had even stupidly bragged to a few friends that we had never tipped over in all of our years of canoeing outings. I should have known better because that boasting was about to bite me in the butt!) About twenty four canoes launched into the quickly-flowing Muskegon River. Deb and I in one canoe, and Bob Friar and Charlene Muehlenhard behind us in another waited to be the last two to launch to be able to help out in case anyone needed assistance.

Unaware that the river was bitterly cold due to an unusual late season runoff underway, my "dumb move number two" was to opt for the seat cushion life preserver rather that the vests.

Shortly after casting off, all canoes made it safely through the relatively mild rapids of Big Rapids fame. It was a scenic and enjoyable early evening outing. Unlike all of the canoes ahead of us, I chose to navigate to a calm-appearing section of the river just after the rapids as a short-cut to catch up with a few boats ahead that were turned around backwards after coming out of the rapids. (Dumb move number three!) What appeared to be calm water was in fact a deep, slow-moving whirlpool created by the rapids that violently jerked the rear of our canoe, and before I could react in the slightest, Deb and I were thrown into the river as the canoe tipped over.

Although the water was stunningly cold I was able to grab my seat cushion and swim to Deb whose cushion had remained in the now upside down canoe that was drifting away from us. We were about 25 feet from the shore in deep water. During the first seconds in the water I was embarrassed that the alleged "expert" and rescuer was apparently the only canoe to swamp. Both of us good swimmers, I felt confident in the first moments that we would just swim to the shore and I'd deal with the embarrassment later. Bob and Charlene were approaching in their canoe.

My wonderful and genuine best friend (and wife of almost 34 years) is a small person with almost no body fat. When I got to her it took a few seconds for me to realize that she was in distress. Hypothermia was grabbing her and with startling rapidity. She was losing body heat and motor control more quickly than I first realized. More slowly I was beginning to realize that I too was struggling. I was trying to get Deb to hold onto the almost-useless floatation cushion while attempting to swim us toward shore. It quickly became apparent that we were making no progress in the direction of shore in the large slow whirlpool that held us. As I looked at Deb and in a matter of only a couple of minutes in the water, my assessment that we would be okay had changed to serious worry.

Bob and Charlene's canoe approached and we answered to them that we were in trouble and needed their help. The current swept their canoe past us and they had to begin to paddle against the current to turn their canoe in our direction. While they were trying to get to us, Deb was quickly deteriorating, moving at a frightening pace toward unconsciousness. In a terrifying moment she let go of the cushion and slipped a foot or two beneath the water. (Afterwards, she recalled that she remembered the brown water as she went down, but that it comfortably felt like falling asleep.) For me, time distortion had set in and it seemed like Bob and Charlene's canoe was miles away and moving in slow motion. As Deb went under I could hear Charlene screaming, "Oh my God! Oh my God!"

I was able to grab Deb and pull her back to the surface and again grab the cushion. I was having an especially hard time moving my legs and arms while struggling to keep our heads above water. It didnŐt seem to me that Bob and Charlene were going to make it to us in time. My previous worry turned to an intense and palpable fear that I wouldn't be able to keep Deb alive.

After what seemed an eternity (Bob Friar said we were actually in the water about ten minutes) the front end of their canoe just seemed to appear next to us and Charlene was reaching for Deb's hand, grabbing it and holding tight. I was able to get a grasp of the canoe and Bob paddled us, clinging to the canoe, to the shore. Somehow, (there are several details for the next hour that are lost to me) Bob and Charlene beached the canoe and pulled us out of the water. I didn't see him go, but Bob took off running back to the picnic grounds to get help and a vehicle while Charlene held Deb in her arms to get her warm. As I laid there on the edge of the river looking at Charlene hold Deb, I experienced a very strange euphoria. Even though I was breathing heavily and had almost no voluntary control of my legs, I felt wonderful! Several of our SSSS friends and colleagues began to arrive.

What immediately follows is a bit of a blur. Bob Friar quickly returned with a vehicle, and Deb and I were moved into the van. In the van, Bev Whipple was clearly in charge, her old nursing training kicking into perfection. Herb Samuels was assisting her. Bev noted that Deb's heart-rate was only 30 and she, Herb and Charlene began removing our clothes to help get us warmer. As Bob drove (I think that there were one or two others in the van, but I don't recall who else was with us), I heard the conversation about whether we should go to the hospital or back to the hotel. I guess in the next couple of minutes, because DebŐs vitals were slightly improving the decision was made to get us more quickly to our hotel room and immediately into a warm bathtub.

It was the right decision. Deb and I had the most efficient, competent and loving EMT team anyone could hope for. Slightly more clearly I recall arriving at the hotel and Herb carrying Deb, wrapped in a blanket. Others were helping me walk across the hotel lobby and they took us to the elevator and our room. Bev, Herb and Charlene worked to get the rest of our cold, wet clothes off and I was first into that wonderful warm bathtub shower. Shortly after, they brought Deb to me and we sat down in the tub while the water slowly brought our core temperatures back to normal. All the while, Bev was keeping a close eye on us, checking heart-rate, skin color, etc. After about an hour we were both extremely fatigued, but greatly revived and they moved us to a bed and covered us while we held each other to stay warm.

I'm not sure how she arranged it, but Bev was able to get an extra key to our room from the desk clerk so she could stop in and check on us. We improved rapidly and had a relatively good night's sleep. (Although Deb startled awake a few times saying that she was dreaming we were back in the water.)

I was feeling just a little shaky early Sunday morning as I arrived to moderate an 8:20 am plenary. Increasingly over the past 20 or so years, I've felt and have often told people that there are many in SSSS who are very important members of my family -- much more than just friends or colleagues. I'm sorry that I don't recall the names and faces of all of the heroes of the evening of June 15, 2002 so please forgive me if I haven't mentioned your name.

Bob Friar embodies the word and the reality of heroism. I recall him calmly talking to us from the canoe as he approached while instructing Charlene on what needed to be done. Charlene's intense love and caring almost lifted us out of the water. Bev's remarkable calm reassurance, medical expertise and direction of our care was perfect in every way. And Herb's calm assistance, including his physical strength, helping to gently and efficiently move things along added immensely to our awareness that we were being cared for with a profound love and expertise.

Although I have no doubt that SSSS is brim full of heroes and potential heroes, Bob, Charlene, Bev and Herb and all of the others who assisted are our heroes. It is not overstating the situation in the slightest to say that you saved our lives -- from pulling us from the frigid water to bringing Deb back from death's door of hypothermia, to getting us to the quickest possible recovery. It is inadequate and an understatement for Deb and I to say thank you -- and to say we love you.

Love,
Bob and Deb