Orono, Maine -- What if we taught people about cooking the way we teach people about sex? That's the premise of a new video starring University of Maine student athletes which will premiere on Monday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Those interested in taking part in the live video premiere are encouraged to join the live discussion at this Zoom link at 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening. The password to join the Zoom discussion is ASR.

UMaine varsity teams who have 10 or more teammates in attendance will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card to Orono House of Pizza for their team.

The tongue-in-cheek video is meant to convey a serious message about the need for better, more positive sexuality education. "A Recipe for Disaster: Talking About Cooking the Way We Talk About Sex" was written and produced by UMaine professor of family relations and human sexuality Sandra Caron, and stars members of the student group Athletes for Sexual Responsibility, which Caron advises. 

"It's good that we don't really talk about cooking this way, but oftentimes it is how we talk about sex when trying to educate young people," says Caron. "Too often people think keeping information from youth and using scare tactics will make them act responsibly. But research shows that doesn't work." 

The video was filmed, directed and edited by professor Caron's niece, Rachel Caron, who recorded all of the scenes at apartments of various Athletes for Sexual Responsibility members.

Caron developed Athletes for Sexual Responsibility in 1990. The unique, semester-long peer education program trains student athletes to present a variety of workshops. The group has produced other videos in the past, as well as posters and educational materials on topics such as rape awareness, smart sex, and drinking and dating. 

"College athletes struggle with the same sexuality issues as regular college students, including pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, dating, sexual assault and rape," says Caron. "What we try to do with this group is have them be role models for their peers, exploring and engaging them on positive alternatives and appropriate sexual behavior."

"A Recipe for Disaster" is being featured this week on the sex education video website, sexsmartfilms.com. It is also available on YouTube and the Athletes for Sexual Responsibility website.

 

-UMaine-