Dear Reader,
The staff of the Harvard Independent is proud to present the 2024 Sex Issue. This issue is a tradition which has been cherished and highly-anticipated annually for over 25 years. Each year’s Sex Issue explores the joys and the complexities of sex and sexuality, and aims to promote sex-positivity in many forms on Harvard’s campus. It is intended to be a reflection of student opinion and spark important conversations.
For those not familiar with our paper, the Indy was founded in 1969 and publishes weekly throughout the school year. This is therefore just one of many topics we write about, but it exemplifies our purpose well by championing the more obscure, unseen aspects of Harvard life. Furthermore, sex is always a relevant story, especially on a college campus.
We have a great array of content in this issue, with a strong bulk of personal stories in the Forum section. Some touch on sensitive topics, and we will therefore preserve the anonymity of those writers. Whether it be pubic hair, contraception, or abstinence, we hope there is a story in here which resonates with you. There is some poetry and creative writing as well as lighthearted “advice” pieces which are intended to be fun, but should not take away from the gravity of some of the other, more serious aspects at play.
Thank you for taking our Sex Survey last week. We received over 500 responses, distributed almost evenly across the four class years. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences, opinions, and desires. Be aware that our respondents likely do not represent the whole student body and we cannot verify the accuracy of self-reported results. Nevertheless, on pages four and five, we have compiled many of the results for your perusal—enjoy!
In the words of Hugh Hefner, “Sex is the driving force on the planet. We should embrace it, not see it as the enemy.” You have certainly shared much with us, and we will share as much with you in the following pages. Read on, dear reader, and enjoy the fruits of your wonderfully horny labor and of ours.
Indy Love,
The Editors of the Independent