By Carrie Knific

Harry Potter and orgasms may seem unlikely bedfellows, but they came together in 2001 when battery-operated toy broomsticks intended for kids were sold in stores and caused a little too much stimulation between the legs.

Sex educator Dorian Solot showed the toy to an audience of mostly women at “I Love the Female Orgasm,” a sex information session with her longtime boyfriend Marshall Miller. Using the broomstick, along with other products like massagers, Solot wanted to show that vibrators can be versatile.

The event, which took place Monday night in the Curry Student Center West Addition, was part of Sex Week 2007, sponsored by the Resident Student Association. Solot and Miller, a couple trained in sex education, met at Brown University in 1993. They travel to campuses around the country to discuss topics like sexual orientation and making healthy sexual decisions.

But Solot said one topic is particularly popular among students.

“The female orgasm is definitely my favorite subject to talk about. It’s really fun and we get so many questions on this topic,” Solot said.

The information session began with Solot sharing her story as a breast cancer survivor, illustrating the importance of being comfortable with one’s body. Solot said she was lucky to have detected a lump on her breast leading to her diagnosis of cancer at 26. She has since been in remission for several years.

The talk lessened the stigma that normally comes with the topic of the female orgasm, hitting upon its importance and the struggles that come along with getting and giving them.

For a brief time the audience was divided by sex, when Miller led the male members into a room upstairs so they could talk about the subject privately.

Male students said the private discussion was helpful.

“It was empowering – it dispelled some of the stigma around the topic,” said Martin Hough, a middler psychology major,

Hough said Miller led a Q’A session about how women experience orgasms and what men should do. Advice ranged from pacing to using lube.

Meanwhile, Solot and the female audience members talked about how to achieve a good orgasm. The women were mostly quiet, but as the talk progressed they became more actively engaged. From using vibrators to piercings to communication with one’s partner, the women were open with sharing their ideas, questions and insight.

When the men returned after about 20 minutes, the couple continued their presentation, offering shared advice about achieving orgasms, reassuring the crowd that this is normal, healthy behavior.

“So much of sex education in high school is about what goes wrong. What we try to do is show how it can really be fun,” Solot said.

Megan McCormick, a freshman English major, was pleased with Solot and Miller mixing humor and factual information.

“It was better than I thought it would be. It was entertaining and informative,” she said. “I’ve never had it spelled out for me in black and white before.”

It’s important for discussions about sex to be open, Solot said.

“I think learning about sex is a great thing. Being well-informed is always good, whether people use it immediately or wait until they’re married,” she said.

The couple’s book, “I Love Female Orgasm: An Extraordinary Orgasm Guide” is packed with additional information on the topic. Released earlier this month, 25 percent of the proceeds from the book and other merchandise at the event went to Breast Cancer Action.