Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

A non-credit human sexuality course at the ECM, taught by retired KU professor Dennis Dailey, accepts both students and non-students but struggles to gain enrollment.

Only 44 people enrolled in the 10-week course by the deadline. The room capacity accommodates up to 100 people and was full the last time Dailey taught the course last spring.

This semester marks the first spring that Dailey has not taught at KU. He retired from the university in June 2004 but continues to teach the course as a non-credit option in order to benefit students.

"I think it's an important service to students," Dailey said.

The ECM Sexuality Education Committee advertised the course in hopes of gaining interest.

"We're trying to be really active in advertising," Jane Segebrecht, committee coordinator, said.

In the past, controversy surround Dailey provided free publicity for the non-credit course. After accusations in 2003 of showing pornography in class, local and national media coverage attracted attention. At the time, both the ECM course and KU course were full or even had waiting lists.

Now, Dailey draws students with his name, but fewer students left at KU remember the controversy.

"I think a lot of people enroll just because of who Dennis Dailey is," Segebrecht said. "He's such a powerful speaker."

Segebrecht said that people enrolled in the course at the first class meeting last spring. She anticipates that some people will show up at the last minute again this semester. A small class size would take something away from the class experience, she said.

"We're hoping there will be a rush at the end," Segebrecht said.

The class aims to help people to better understand their own sexuality.

"Students will be able to use this experience to sort out their attitudes, beliefs, and feelings about human sexual function and dysfunction," Dailey wrote in his course objectives.

Organizers in the Sexuality Education Committee brought Dailey to the ECM for students and non-students alike to have a place to talk about sexuality.

"I think it's important to question attitudes and beliefs about sexuality," Segebrecht said.

The ECM course provides a rare opportunity to openly discuss sexuality in an informal academic setting. "There aren't a lot of places to learn about sexuality," Segebrecht said.

Thad Holcombe, campus pastor at the ECM, believes that the church has a responsibility to aid in understanding of human sexuality. Discontinuing the course would eliminate the only such sexuality class in Lawrence.

"We think it's so important to have a place to talk about sexuality and sex," Holcombe said.

Dailey said he does not know why enrollment dropped. He considered not teaching the course in the future of enrollment remains low.

"Maybe it's time to not do it," Dailey said.

Anyone can enroll in the course up through the first class period on Thursday. Classes run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Enrollment is $40 for students and $50 for non-students for the non-credit course.

KU ECM Journal-World's coverage of Dailey conflict Reports of Dailey conflict