PPC\u2019s Instagram post<\/a> announcing the bingo night, a large number of commenters made their opinions heard.<\/p>\n\u201cWtf is this?\u201d one user wrote.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Others joked with GIFs or mentions of their friends in the comment section. Keenan acknowledged the shocking nature of the event but believes it can aid in spreading awareness and information regarding sexual wellness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving an event called Sex Toy Bingo is kind of jarring to the eye and ear in general, so it really gets people\u2019s attention,\u201d Keenan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa Miranda, a junior majoring in political science and psychology, said she and her friend were intrigued by the racy game night. Miranda was one of hundreds of students on the waitlist for the bingo event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like sometimes people just come as a joke, and they don\u2019t really get the full idea, but it\u2019s definitely a nice try to get that awareness. I was definitely shocked when I saw it, but we were like, \u2018let\u2019s go for the plot,\u2019\u201d Miranda said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lorelai Aprea, a first-year psychology major, agreed that the event seemed humorous at first glance, but she also realized its deeper meaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of signed up a little bit as a joke, but then the more I heard about it, people were really excited, and I kind of wanted to see what the vibes were,\u201d Aprea said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aprea recognized the importance of the event\u2019s educational nature, especially as it relates to college students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s really important because I think part of the way to make sex healthier is to make it more education[al] and less stigmatized,\u201d Aprea said. \u201cEspecially young people in our generation \u2014 the more we are able to talk about it, the more we are able to be educated and perform it safely with others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though there was pushback against the event, it also saw great success. Keenan said the night\u2019s large turnout is an indicator of the student body\u2019s needs and interests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with every event there is going to be pushback, and I expected it with this one. But I think the amount of positive reaction that it had, the fact that [we] sold out in under 30 minutes, the fact that [we] had a waitlist of five hundred, shows that there is a genuine interest and genuine need for this event, so people are going to comment negatively about anything,\u201d Keenan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Keenan recognized the scarcely seen opportunity to host a sex-focused event at an institution like Pitt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be able to be in a community and a program [that] supports creativity and pushing the bounds and making [a] significant impact, that\u2019s something that really is conducive [to] the Pitt environment,\u201d Keenan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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