Welcome back to the SSIS column, where we answer any and all of Brandeis students’ questions about sex, sexuality, identity and relationships. If you have a question you’d like answered in our next column, email ssis@brandeis.edu or leave a question in the Google Form link on the Student Sexuality Information Service Facebook page. Any and all questions are welcome: there are no bad, stupid or weird questions!
(Note: These answers are good-faith attempts by SSIS to be helpful to the Brandeis community, and are by no means exhaustive or to be taken as universal. If these answers don’t resonate with you, either pay them no mind, or reach out to us with suggestions for improvement!)
What does SSIS actually do?
SSIS is a student-run volunteer-based group that aims to serve the Brandeis community’s sexual health and pleasure needs. Each year, every member of SSIS goes through approximately 30 hours of training. Although we have two staff advisors, we’ve remained entirely student-run since our founding in 1973 to maintain our standards of confidentiality.
We strive to create a welcoming space for the Brandeis community by holding office hours each week. During our office hours, community members can come in and utilize our outer office as a place to study or relax, talk to some of our members for peer support or buy affordable sex toys and safer sex supplies. Some of the products we carry include a variety of external condoms, internal condoms, finger cots, dental dams, lubes, sex toys, menstrual cups and pregnancy tests. Our products are largely subsidized so that we can offer them at discounted rates.
Throughout the school year, we host workshops, maintain a confidential texting service, run educational events, send out a monthly newsletter and offer referrals. SSIS members are also trained to offer peer education in the form of dorm raps which we tailor to meet the needs of clubs or residence halls. If your group has any particular questions, feel free to reach out to us. We can speak on a wide range of topics including relationships, sexual pleasure, sexuality, long-distance relationships, STIs/STDs, kink and more! Our monthly newsletter features a product and book of the month, updated information on upcoming events and a Spotify playlist with super sexy and intimate songs.
In our outer office space, we have a comprehensive library on technique, sexuality, gender and relationships. We also have some stress toys in our space along with coloring and craft supplies which community members can use to relax. Our office space is on the 3rd floor of the Shapiro Campus Center in room 328, so feel free to come in during our hours.
