"SEX RULES" Today, 7 p.m. De Neve
Auditorium
Tonight, sex will rule on campus ““ at least in one
auditorium.
“Sex Rules” is a comedic performance focused on sex
education, specifically on teaching students safe practices and how
to deal with emotional issues.
Maria Falzone, the presenter, is a comedian currently on a
speaking tour of colleges nationwide.
“Maria uses her frank and funny style to challenge the
audience’s attitudes,” wrote Karma Dickerson, a recent
UCLA graduate, in a letter to the Daily Bruin.
Dickerson is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority,
which helped organize the event.
Falzone’s performance will address issues such as body
image, drug and alcohol use in relation to sexual encounters, date
rape, sexual orientation, sexual harassment, self-esteem, sexual
violence and safe sex, Dickerson added.
“Maria celebrates human sexuality,” said Dickerson.
“She is funny, but addresses the issues.”
Cailin Crockett, a first-year political science student and an
intern at the UCLA Center for Women & Men, said she thought the
“Sex Rules” program would be useful.
“This is an effective way of educating students on an
important issue and opening the dialogue on an issue that is
generally seen as taboo,” Crockett said.
“This program is especially important for students coming
from high school where there is little information regarding safe
sex and a stronger support for abstinence,” Crockett
said.
Through audience participation, Dickerson said Falzone teaches
students appropriate and effective communication skills and
emphasizes the importance of communication in a relationship.
This is Falzone’s second visit to UCLA.
“Last year (Falzone) was a huge hit. She is open with her
audience and overwhelmingly popular,” Dickerson said.
But Nelson Villaluz, a fifth-year aerospace engineering student,
was not as confident in the virtues of the program’s
approach.
“The issues need to be addressed, but I don’t know
if comedy is the best way to do it,” Villaluz said. “It
really depends on how she presents them and the premise of the
show. We need to recognize (that) the tone of the issues at hand
are very serious.”
The Center for Women & Men, the Office of Residential Life
and Alpha Kappa Alpha worked together to put on the event.
Falzone has performed at several universities throughout the
nation, including UC Irvine, UC Davis, Dartmouth and the University
of Connecticut.
According to Dickerson, tickets to Falzone’s show sold out
at both UC campuses.