Ben Cogswell

By Sylvia Mayorga, 15, Staff Writer

Ben always thought it would be cool to write for a national publication. So, he was very excited when the Sex, Etc. recruitment staff came to his health class. He knew being on the board would be fun and educational. “I like the idea of helping others and talking about issues that will help them choose the right path,” he says. Ben’s goals this year include providing factual and helpful advice and information on health issues that most concern teens today. He hopes to contribute “many intriguing and exciting stories” to Sex Etc., which will help and inspire teens to make decisions about sex that will best suit them. He also wants teens to realize that they are not alone and not the only ones dealing with tough decisions about sex.

Christina Coleman

By Kameron Collins, 16, Staff Writer

Christina is tired of hearing that the teen pregnancy rate is going down, because in her school it seems like it’s on the rise. “Pregnancy is more common than it should be,” she says. Christina sees Sex, Etc. as an opportunity to reach out to her peers, particularly those in her community, because she feels that teens don’t want to learn about sexual issues from adults; they want to hear it from other teens. Sex, Etc. is the next logical step for a girl like Christina, who is involved with public speaking and writing. It has the added bonus of letting her write about issues that matter to teens. “I thought it would be really cool to write about something people are afraid to talk about,” she says. She plans to report on interracial dating, the close-mindedness of homophobic teens, and drugs.

Max Mintz

By Ana Bacic, 17, Staff Writer

Let’s be honest: People are often embarrassed to talk about sex. Not Max. Visibly warm, humorous, and open, Max wants to further Sex, Etc.’s affect on teens. “We need to create a national community for the promotion of sexual acceptance,” he adds. Keenly aware of the current political climate, Max is an earnest activist, concerned with issues ranging from abortion to abstinence-only education. His tolerant, liberal attitude is complemented by his optimism—his desire to wean the world of its apathy and indifference and return to it the humanity and acceptance that Max seems to have in endless abundance. He believes that Sex, Etc. provides “the responsible leadership in sex education that many teens are unfortunately denied.”

Sylvia Mayorga

By Ben Cogswell, 16, Staff Writer

“I was always highly interested in the Sex, Etc. newsletter,” says Sylvia. She always felt greatly satisfied after reading it, and she plans to bring even more to the newsletter and Web site. As a board member, Sylvia will share the personal experiences of teens in her life and make sure the newsletter is kept as vibrant as it is, while improving its quality and design. “I feel teens should have the right to information,” she adds. She plans to work with this year’s board to answer teens’ questions, submit quality stories, have fun, and help provide an even superior newsletter and Web site. Now a junior, Sylvia hopes to spend next year on the board, too, and provide even more information to benefit teen readers

Ana Bacic

By Max Mintz, Staff Writer

Ana is one of the most passionate members of the SEX, ETC. Editorial Board. An ardent feminist, she speaks eloquently on subjects ranging from breast cancer to abortion. She believes strongly in equality and feels that sexuality education is a right for all people. This passion has led to her deeply caring attitude toward people who are most in need: those in inner cities and third-world nations. Ana’s dream, as she puts it, is to become a “sexologist.” Her college dreams include a double major in neurology and sexuality, to help her become the best sex educator she can be. “Sexuality is one of our most inherent traits, yet it remains a stigma in our society,” she says. We can expect passionate stories and great things from Ana.

Anna Bialek

By Carolina Guillen, Staff Writer

Now in her second year on the Sex, Etc. board, Anna looks forward to inspiring and educating American teens. She feels that Sex, Etc. has a lot to offer her peers. They can seek comfort in the many beneficial and useful tips, advice, stories, and interviews about sex. As a board member, Anna hopes to answer teens’ sexual health questions in the most accessible way. She feels that Sex, Etc. provides much more than any textbook or health teacher ever could to teens. Anna is extremely proud to be a teen who serves the nation with sexual health information. “This is the closest I can come to being every teen’s best friend,” she says.

Ayana Stewart

By Lex Wolfe, 17, Staff Writer

Communication! Communication! Communication! It may sound a bit cliché, but knowledge is power. Ayana's love of writing and awareness of sex education make her want to spread her knowledge and beliefs about sexual health to as many teens as possible. "I'm here because I want to communicate with people all across the globe about sex, because it is a very important issue," she says. Sex, Etc. is Ayana's platform--the tool to help her relay information to curious teens everywhere. Ayana is a first-year board member, but she shows the necessary readiness to take a lead role in communicating the knowledge of Sex, Etc.

Carolina Guillen

By Anna Bialek, 17, Staff Writer

“I see it every day,” says Carolina. “We’ve had over 70 pregnancies in the freshman class alone at my school.” A member, as a junior, of Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP), a teen peer-to-peer sex education group, Carolina enters her senior year passionate about giving teens the information they need to have safer sex and prevent unplanned pregnancy. An outspoken advocate against date rape, Carolina also hopes she will be able to help survivors of these tragedies use their experiences for the better. Carolina is excited to work for Sex, Etc., because it gives her a forum to reach a broader audience. “It gives me a chance to help other teens with the everyday issues they face,” she says.

Eric Johnson

Eric joined the Sex, Etc. board in 2003 so he could learn more about the world around him. A noted journalist, Eric seeks to improve his writing skills while helping teens make the right decisions and give them the advice they want about sex. Being a part of Sex, Etc. has helped Eric further develop his social skills, which he believes is “something we all need and should have to function normally and succeed in life.” His experience on the board last year helped him to become more open-minded. He now sees things like gay and lesbian issues in “a different light.” Eric’s goals are simple: to continue to provide teens with more of the information and advice that they want to hear. So, open your ears!

Jenna Levy

By Anonymous, Contributor

Jenna returns for her second year on the Sex, Etc. Editorial Board. “I loved it so much the first year that I wanted to come back,” she says. Last year, she wrote stories on controversial issues, like the new contraceptive Seasonale, which prevents pregnancy while enabling women to have their periods four times a year. This year, Jenna looks forward to educating her peers about other controversial issues and speaking her mind about comprehensive sex education and abortion rights. Her career goal is to become a magazine editor, so she also wants to improve her journalism skills. Jenna is very open-minded and friendly, and she looks forward to meeting other teens who share her beliefs about sexual health.

Kameron Collins

By Christina Coleman, 16, Staff Writer

Kameron discovered Sex, Etc. his freshmen year, when the newsletter was distributed in his health class. During his sophomore year, he met a member of a prior Sex, Etc. board, which led to him applying and joining the board in 2003. Like many who join, Kameron first thought that Sex, Etc. was only about writing, but he soon found himself speaking to gym teachers on how to create better sex-ed teaching methods for future generations. Kameron has written about Internet filters, the McGreevy coming-out and Janet Jackson scandals, homophobia, interracial dating, and rising STD rates. Kameron has more to bring to the table. “In a nutshell, I’m pro-gay rights, pro-choice, and against abstinence-only education, and I plan to bring all of this out in my writing.”

Lex Wolfe

By Ayana Stewart, 17, Staff Writer

You don’t have to change a nation, a town, or even 20 people—all it takes to truly succeed is to make one person understand. Lex, a first-year Sex, Etc. board member, is truly passionate about changing his peers. Spreading his sexual-health knowledge to teens everywhere is a goal Lex plans to achieve with Sex, Etc. “I would be a successful board member if I just changed one person,” he says. He believes that sex education is key. Ignorance about your own body is a failure, and Lex believes that no teen should fail to learn and know about his or her own body and sexual health. “I strongly believe I have very original and open views on sex to help teens,” he says. Lex is a true success for the Sex, Etc. newsletter and Web site.

2004 - 2005