Pornography For Preppies

By Jeremy Caplan

Harvard alums were blushing a deep crimson red last week as the university's Committee on College Life approved the campus's first student sex magazine. Its co-founder, Camilla Hrdy, a junior, told the Harvard Crimson that the formal committee got "past the fear of porn." But after a spate of publicity and a chorus of shocked responses, the university reconsidered and now says it won't fund the magazine. Even so, Hrdy and sophomore Katharina Baldegg plan to bring out the publication--dubbed H Bomb, campus lingo for the powerful effect Harvard credentials have on suitors--in May, in time for commencement.

Hrdy and Baldegg are modeling their magazine on Squirm, a journal of erotica put out by Vassar students since 1999. And for other inspiration, the students don't have far to look. A number of other elite colleges have got down and dirty:

--YALE Undergrad members of a club called Porn n' Chicken in 2001 filmed an X-rated short, set in the library, titled StaXXX.

--M.I.T. An electrical-engineering student started GeekPorn, a graphic online magazine illustrating the connection between student geekiness and sexiness.

--SWARTHMORE A slick journal called Untouchables, packed with sexy stories, was a short-lived hit in 2001 at this top Pennsylvania college.

--SMITH Students started an online smut magazine called Smithiegirls to show nude students learning about love.

--By Jeremy Caplan