The University of Wisconsin-Madison reinstated a sex education module after removing the module on Oct. 16, 2024 because an inquiry from conservative student newspaper The Madison Federalist revealed the module contained a link to an adult film award site, the Feminist Porn Awards.
University Health Services offers the SexWise Canvas module as one of four violence prevention modules. UW-Madison first-years and transfers are required to complete one of the four modules before enrolling in classes and all other students are encouraged to take one GetWise module each year.
UW-Madison spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell told The Daily Cardinal the university conducted their yearly review of the module ahead of schedule after Federalist Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Rothove’s inquiry and reinstated the module with “updates throughout the program in support of clarity, plain language and inclusivity.”
“Research shows that comprehensive sex education can prevent people from both causing and experiencing sexual violence. SexWIse aims to provide information that meets students where they are — regardless of their sexuality, gender identity, or level of knowledge,” Tyrrell said.
Spencer Runde, Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment UW member, told the Cardinal most changes to the module were “minor” and questioned the initial removal of the module.
“Even though just a small part of my experience was in that module, I still felt like I got silenced by the university,” Runde said.
Rory Madden, Sex Out Loud chair, also worried about the module’s absence during the Red Zone, a period of time from September to Thanksgiving during which the majority of sexual assaults on college campuses occur.
“I want to go to a school knowing the administration supports me and all my identities and overall taking [GetWise] down was really hurtful to me as a queer person and as a survivor,” Madden said.
Runde and Madden were both “frustrated” by the Federalist article.
“I think that his article hurt a lot of people,” Madden said.
Madden supported some changes to the module, but overall she said “the cons outweigh the pros in this situation.”
The changes she disagreed with included removing words from the module’s “sex glossary,” resources surrounding safe intimacy and sex, the university's land acknowledgement from all GetWIse modules, links to a “feminist, ethical porn blog” and rewording mentions of casual sex.
Madden disagreed with Rothove’s characterization of the link as a “pornographic website.” Instead, she argued the link was to “a blog that contained a link to an ethical porn site, which talked about where to find ethical porn.”
When asked about their thoughts on the removal of the website, Runde declined to comment.
Tyrrell said the university updated references in the module with “research-based evidence and to best align with the program’s goals.”
