Tonight's Homework: Masturbate

It isn't rare for Tom Kubistant to ask his students to double up on their masturbation and write about it. But for Western Nevada College student Karen Royce, the instructor's request went too far.

Kubistant teaches Human Sexuality at the community college, leading class discussions about orgasms and sexual positions. Students also must write a 14-page sexual case study in which they discuss their fetishes, abuse and any "lubrication challenges."

An offended Royce has filed a sexual harassment complaint against the school.

In it, she claims that Tom Kubistant refused to offer alternative assignments, instead insisting that she masturbate to pass the class, reports KRNV. But other students say that alternatives were made available.

Karen Royce is actually the first Western Nevada College student to complain about the class, according to the Associated Press. Kubistant has taught it 21 times and received rave reviews.

Part of the issue may be that Royce is 60-years-old, and was expecting to discuss the role of sex in culture and media. Everyone else seemed to expect--and accept--something a little more graphic.

Her sexual harassment complaint might fail for this reason. She chose to remain in the class even after learning of its requirements. Schools aren't necessarily required to change a course's content when a lone student objects to every assignment.

Sexuality classes are also becoming more common, giving them academic credibility. The University of California, Berkeley has taught the equally-graphic FemSex since 1994. Harvard, Brown and a number of other universities have since followed.

Western Nevada College is thus defending Tom Kubistant's sexuality class. And as expected, Karen Royce continues to insist she does not masturbate.

Related Resources:

• Student's Sexual Harassment Claim Is a Bit Unreasonable (The Stir)
• Sexual Harassment at School (FindLaw)
• Brazilian Woman Has Right to Masturbate at Work, Court Rules (FindLaw's Legally Weird)