A classroom is just a classroom and a comfort room is just a comfort room until raging hormones baptize the terrain. In times of sexual drought, these places in campus — among others — become hot spots of satisfactory debauchery.

The right spot

Hearsays about sex in school aren’t new to Patrick*. One afternoon, out of whim, he tries it for himself.

He invites a friend to do an experiment: lock themselves together in the MVP, SEC-B, and CTC comfort room cubicles for about 10 minutes each. Patrick and his friend will not do anything wild. He just wants to try if they could stay and get out of those places unnoticed.

They did.

“Sexy time in school is always possible,” says Jon*, a recent graduate who admits to having had sex during his freshman Orientation Seminar. He says, “You just have to know your way around.”

Back in college, parking lots and comfort rooms have always been his secret hideout whenever he wanted to make out with his bevy of partners. “Chances of getting caught are less if you do it in a tinted car,” he says. “At the same time, there are [comfort rooms] here in the Ateneo that are home for excited people like me.”

He explains that, based from experience, some comfort rooms in campus aren’t frequented as much as some. “For some strange reason, there is a sense of security when you bring your partner [to places in campus where people don’t often go to]” Jon says, revealing certain comfort rooms located in buildings that don’t house main administrative offices or conference rooms for student groups.

Uncaught in the act

Having sex in school sometimes means not getting the full load of the entire act. “Usually, it’s just [until third base] because you need more time if you want [other things],” says Jon.

Ana*, a super senior, shares the same sentiment. “It’s mostly about [foreplay],” she says. “Oras at takot kasi ang kalaban mo (Time and fear are against you).”

After having gratified herself in vacant classrooms and in certain organization rooms in MVP a number of times with her partners, Ana knows that the campus is not the best place for such activity. “The sessions only last for a few minutes,” she says.

Now, Ana feels lucky that neither the guards nor peers have caught her in action. “You can’t really predict what could happen,” she says. “The guards are roaming 24 hours a day in the Ateneo.”

Then why the risk? “It just so happened that you are in school when you feel the urge,” she says. “In effect, you do it there.”

FHM sex columnist Asia Agcaoili further explains, “Some people get the kick out of [having sex in school] because they are somehow exhibitionists.” According to her, today’s youth are very eager to try everything that is new to them.

“Some are looking for spice in their relationship that they try something daring, which is sex in a public venue,” says Agcaoili. “The thrill of getting caught gives them a sense of gratification.”

Jon and Ana are quick to point out that for them, it’s not the case.

Sex and the school

When entering a comfort room cubicle or walking along an array of parked cars, one might wonder if secluded action has taken place there. And if the walls and pavements could talk, they might validate the rumors that most might have been hearing for the longest time. Yes, sex happens in campus.

The guilty, however, attest that they don’t do it on purpose. “Sometimes, you [can] really plan to make out in campus,” Ana says in Filipino. “But there are just more instances that it’s spontaneous and opportunity-driven.” Jon says that it’s spur of the moment. He says, “There’s really no choice but to do it in school.”

Whatever it says about the today’s youth, teenagers will be teenagers, says Agcaoili. And at one point in their lives, they will commit a transgression – “a kinky transgression.”

While it can be attributed to a mere physiological or psychological need, the case changes when you consider the setting: a Catholic and Jesuit university.

“Sex [in] campus can be likened to acts of sacrilege committed in holy places like churches,” says Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rene San Andres. “The reason for [Ateneo’s] existence is a direct consequence of the Christian inspiration of St. Ignatius and the Society of Jesus,” he says. “[Having sex in school] is seen as an act of disrespect towards the institution and the values and principles it stands for.”

Students who are caught committing sexual misconduct in school premises are subject to suspension lasting from a month to a full year depending on the circumstance, San Andres adds. When asked about the number of students caught having sex in campus, San Andres prefers not to comment.

In this case, whoever said — or believes — that all that is pleasurable is right might just want to consider thinking twice.

*Names have been changed to protect the individuals.

Stop! In the name of law

What does university law actually say about it?

1. According to the Code of Discipline for Students, an offense constitutes the failure to “distinguish between acts that shall promote their well being as a person and those that subvert this.” An offense is also considered major if the case is “against the core principles” of the Ateneo.

2. It is stated in Section I that it is each student’s responsibility to “conduct themselves in a manner that promotes their continuing development as persons, as well as the continuing development of their peers.” It is also the student’s responsibility that the campus environment is “wholesome and conducive to human formation.”

3. Sexual misconduct is enumerated as an offense in Section III.

4. “Engaging in, or provoking, scandalous behaviour on campus” is placed under Offenses Against Public Morals.