West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

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' PERSONAL VALUES In what may seem a vety idealistic approach, the vahw one puts on human di -nity and th. way one cherishes a relationship is the most real, immediate and practical motivation for appro- priate sexual expression and control. As a believer in God commuted to an incarnational ap- proach to human life, I see God ' s plan for man worked out in the situation of each one as a person in relationship to others. Laws, principles and guidelines for human behavior must be worked out in this framework. Any mere taboos or no-no ' s are inadequate to a real sense of direction and are even destruc- tive of any real humanity. Edward A. Hofler Father Hofler of the Paidist Fathers is a Catholic Campus Minister on the staff of St. John ' s, Newman Halt and Evansdale Ecumenical Center.

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A MODERN PRIEST ' S VIEW OF SEX AND MORALITY How does one live and grow as a person? How does one relate lovingly and creatively to other persons? This is what sexuality is all about; for a man to he at home with his basic masculinity and a woman with her basic femininity; for both to be able to recognize and even cherish the feminine in the man, the masculine in the woman. Sexuality is at the very heart of person and relationship. It can deeply sensitize or grossly de- humanize. This is why living fully as a woman or man requires a great sense of direction and goals. In this sense do we speak of morality and sexuality in the same breath. Inhibition and control are at best important instruments in living out an intelligently perceived self-concept and lovingly but honestly relating to another. Simple no-no ' s and taboos are never the ingredients of an intelligent moral sense. A truly human and, I think. Christian approach to sex cannot be adequately expressed in a list of do ' s and don ' t ' s and neat categories of mortal and venial sins. One can be irresponsible only insofar as these deeds represent his real attitude. RA TIONA LIZA TION In judging one ' s own responsibility for actions it is always easy to rationalize in one ' s favor. This is why a person who seeks to be authentic must be able to share his questions and ambiva- lence about himself with others who are similarly concerned about life, its goals and its demands. Everyone must have a family or a community in which he can share his fears, doubts, reserva- tions, questions — a community of idealists seeking to make their ideals practical. I think this community notion is at the heart of the Roman Catholic idea of confession, the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. In confession, we Catholics are confronted with many specific questions about sex. How are we to deal with these questions healthily and responsibly? Premarital .sex, for instance, is not wrong because it is dirty, because it results in loss of physi- cal virginity or reputation. For two people who deeply relate to each other, are in love, or think they are in love, to want to express themselves sexually is a normal and healthy development. But for human beings sex is not simply an inevitable instinct. It is the deepest form of human communication that exists. It is a most delicate, sensitive conversation which can open up per- sons to joy and deeper personhood, or it can hurt or reduce a person to a thing. In such a communication where partners to the dialogue are open and exposed and vulnera- ble, it is possible to speak the most important word that needs to be said to one ' s beloved. But it is al.w possible to say too much, to say more than one is ready to .say, to indicate total commit- ment hut not be ready to back it up v. ' ith the reality of one ' s life laid on the line for that other person. It is possible to say and even to mean it at the time: I love you, and then take it back. MATURE SEXUALITY I use the example of premarital sex to say that sexuality is not at its heart a matter of what ' s clean or dirty, modest or obscene, pure or impure, but of what is most deeply human and honest and loving. Responsible attention to one ' s .sexuality, then, means two things. Mature .sexuality is to be as fully and comfortably a man or a woman and in one ' s sexual context strive to relea.se the deepest and best facets of one ' s personality. Mature sexuality is also to cherish and take responsibility for the good of the other person — not simply what the other wants or needs at the moment or what will turn on that person. To relate maturely means to bring one ' s best resources to the rela- tionship and to evoke what is best from the other person.

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THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY: WE LOOK BACK ON A LONG YEAR It ' s been a year of contrast, a collegiate version of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. As WW students prepare for spring finals, they often look back on the school year nearing its end. The Good memories come to mind first. Last fall, they saw the emergence of a fine sophomore quarterback, leading a great football team. Interest in campus politics increased. The formation of a third campus political party was met with mixed emotions. It ' s difficult to tell who ' s happier about the new unrestricted hours policy to go into effect next fall. Some of the men students cheered louder than the women. Although not yet in effect, the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities is looked upon as a step forward. Many students, black and white, were pleased with the establishment of a Kappa Alpha Psi colony on campus. It ' s the first Black fraternity in WVU histoiy. And then there are the bad memories, U students saw their basketball team lose more games than they won. The Little Mountaineers are determined to reverse this trend, however. The failure of the Festival of Ideas to attract great interest was a negative point on last year ' s score. The ' Lair Snack Bar was the scene of two ugly incidents which marred an otherwise progres- sive, generally happy year. One of the incidents was a near riot between approximately 40 students and nonstudents. The other was the shooting of a young women for reasons as yet unknown. After looking back, the students must turn to thoughts of finals. With enough study, the stu- dent version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly may have a happy ending. Daily Athenaeum, April 30 10