1URES
7
Greensboro, n.c.
IP BOUND TO PlEASE
Jake Blumgart | Senior Writer
Nasi Easton | Senior Writer
The Guilford community is comprised
of countless smaller communities. Some,
such as the Quaker community, have
their voices frequently heard on cam
pus. Others are not so vocal, but their
presence is still felt. A few communities,
however, are rarely acknowledged - such
as the BDSM community.
Though not often spoken of, BDSM
(Bondage, Domination, Sado-Masochism)
has long been a part of college culture.
The restrictions of dorm living don't pre
vent students from experimenting with
blindfolds, handcuffs and paddles.
Unfortunately, a lack of experience
can lead to harmful or awkward acci
dents - which is why the Safe Leather
Group was created last year.
"If you are uneducated in BDSM you
can injure someone physically or emo
tionally," said senior Kass James, who
helped found the group. "For experi
enced people, that is the worst possible
thing that can happen. Injuring someone
is the last thing you want."
Four Guilford students created the
safe leather group in response to rumors
of unsafe BDSM practices among college
students. James and his peers recognized
the importance of education in ensuring
safety - and decided to do something
about it.
"We're running this group from an
almost purely academic standpoint,"
said James. "We want to educate people
on how to not hurt each other and have
fun with their partners."
The BDSM community's mantra is
"safe, sane, and consensual," an ethos
that the group promotes. Responsibility
and safety are as important as pleasure
and play. This idea is especially sig
nificant in the face of societal misunder
standing of BDSM culture.
"It's not really what the normative
culture makes it out to be," James said.
"It's not this deep dark fetishized orgy
sort of thing."
"It's not always that stereotypical
image of a guy with a leather mask
and a whip," said sophomore Lindsay
Lavenhar. "You don't want to feel uncom
fortable at all."
Comfort is key in the parties James
hosts once a semester in his off-campus
house. The focal point of the parties is
a room devoted to BDSM— affection
ately dubbed by its devotees as "the sex
dungeon.." The room is stocked with a
large supply of toys, ropes, and a bond
age table. ^
"Some people wouldn't normally
come to a professional dungeon because
it makes them uncomfortable," said
Lavenhar. "But when you are at a party,
there is a certain amount of trust. It takes
the fear out of the taboo to be in a com
fortable environment."
Every precaution is taken to ensure
that "play parties" are fun and safe
for everyone involved. Drugs are not
allowed, and those who drink are asked
to leave if they become too inebriated.
Several responsible, sober individu
als supervise the activities. Everyone is
allowed free rein in the dungeon, but
in case things go too far, the house safe
word is "teddy bear."
For some, play parties, and BDSM in
general, offer more than pleasure. There's
a psychological aspect to it as well. Those
who are dominant can achieve something
called "topspace," while submissives
reach a similar state called "subspace."
"It's sort of like a psychological eupho
ria," said first-year Theo Kogod. "You
achieve a frame of mind where you're
very aware of what's going on around
you. It's akin to a meditative state."
Regardless of their reasons for enjoy
ing BDSM, members of the group feel
connected as a community and feel free
to express their lifestyle at Guilford.
While the cultural taboo still exists, their
top priority is changing that.
"Finding out this club existed made
me realize that Guilford is a very open-
minded school," said Kogod. "It's
only through education that we elimi
nate ignorance and replace taboo with
culture."
It’s sort of lilie psydiolojikfll (uphorio. You oihkve
fl frame of mind where you’re very owoie of whot’s
jioinii on uround yon it’s nhin to u meditotive stme."
Theo Kogod
First-Year