College Visit: MIT students question use of annual $75 dorm fees to create SEX-C, a controversial fu
By Sarah Ellis
SEX-C at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will continue to receive funding, according to The Tech, MIT's student newspaper. Residents of Simmons Hall, a dormitory at MIT, voted last semester to approve SEX-C-Simmons Entertainment Executive Committee-which allocates funds "to hire professional entertainers for residents of Simmons Hall as well as provide refreshments and sustenance to attendees." A recent appeal to revoke funding on Sept. 17 lost by a slim margin, 40-32, but that hasn't stopped students from questioning the fund.

Only 29 of the 350 students in Simmons Hall attended the meeting in spring 2006 which established SEX-C, allowing the creation of this "joke," as MIT junior Lawrence F. Bronk called the program, according to The Harvard Crimson. The lack of attendees at the meeting has raised issues among students who fear their annual $75 fee for hall-sponsored activities is being misused. Others worry about what this will do to MIT's reputation. "This wasn't exactly the best publicity MIT could want," junior Agustya R. Mehta told The Crimson.

The student appeal has brought media attention to the SEX-C program, putting an end to the "dearth of publicity" about SEX-C initially listed as a complaint in the appeal. Articles about the new fund can be found in the U.S. News & World Report and MySpace.com. Further arguments include the fact that many of the underage freshmen students in Simmons Hall cannot legally enjoy strippers. Others mention moral and religious restraints as well.

However, full of double entendres-SEX-C is led by a "Head" and "SHAFT" (Supporting-Head-Assistants-For-Transactions)-the group has the majority of their Hall on their side.

While Simmons residents begin planning for the $3,000 stripper party, others wait for the entire program to be axed. After the failed appeal, Mehta filed a complaint with the Simmons Judicial committee to have the funding repealed. This petition for repeal has not yet been brought before the committee. This incident, however, has taught students to participate in their dorm communities. In the meantime, MIT students wait to see if SEX-C will ultimately receive funding. As one of the creators of SEX-C, MIT junior J. Matt Long told The Tech, "To tell you the truth, this may or may not happen."

Issue 04, Submitted 2006-09-27 22:15:13