NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch, director Paul Thomas and Vivid Girls Savanna Samson and Monique Alexander will visit Yale University next week as official guests of Sex Week At Yale 2008.
Sex Week at Yale (SWAY) is a biannual series of student events dedicated to sexuality, love and relationships. Scheduled for Feb. 11 -18, SWAY 2008 marks the first time organizers have devoted an entire day to an adult production company.
"Vivid Day" will be held Saturday, Feb. 16. Hirsch will lecture on "The Business of Pornography: How Vivid Made It Mainstream" at 4:30 p.m. at the university's Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall. Thomas, Samson and Alexander will be the featured guests in a panel discussion to be held in the Yale law school auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Later that evening, Thomas and the two girls will judge a "Who Looks Most Like a Vivid Girl" contest during an off-campus party at Toad's Place, the famous York Street nightclub that has played host to surprise sets from The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.
In addition to Vivid Day, SWAY 2008 will host a special edition of the traveling "Great Porn Debate" with Ron Jeremy and XXX Church pastor Craig Gross to be broadcast on ABC's "Nightline" and moderated by host Martin Bashir. Monique Alexander will join Jeremy in the debate, which takes place Feb. 15 at The LoRicco Ballroom.
SWAY 2008 is sponsored by Pure Romance, Inc., whose founder and CEO Patty Brisben will speak to students about sex toys as part of "What A Girl Wants" day on Feb. 12. Other guests appearing during the week include Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr. Susan Block, and Matador and Mystery from VH1's "The Pick-Up Artist." The schedule also features a fashion and lingerie show to benefit AIDS research and awareness, a speed dating night and a Trojan condom seminar on "America's sexual health problem."
SWAY was founded by Yale Hillel student Eric Rubenstein, who initially conceived it as a Jewish event called Kosher Sex Week. Wicked Pictures contract girl Devinn Lane was a guest in 2004, and SWAY 2006 featured a panel with First Amendment attorney Greg Piccionelli, Digital Playground starlet Jesse Jane and Pirates director Joone.
"There is no ideology behind Sex Week," said SWAY director Joseph Citarella. "Its mission is simple: present students with a range of perspectives about sexuality to get them talking, so that they can begin to reconcile serious issues of love, sex and relationships in their lives."
For more information, go to www.sexweekatyale.com.
