She reached into her bag of tricks and pulled out a Magic Wand, Rabbit Pearl, Don Juan, Beaver, Dental Dam and a Duet Crown.
It was standing room only Tuesday in the Cantina at Mary Ward Hall where students lined up to see a display of San Francisco's largest collection of vibrators and other sex paraphernalia.
"Vibrators and More" sponsored by Eros -- the Education and Referral Organization for Sexuality -- was a blend of safer sex, toys, and entertainment. Students were treated to a demonstration and talk from self-proclaimed "experienced slut" Susan Gross of Good Vibrations.
"I'm on this planet to enable people to explore their sexuality in safe ways," Gross said. A trained professional, Gross jumped at the chance to work for Good Vibrations after leaving corporate America a few months ago where she worked as an executive secretary for Bechtel Corporation.
She presented an assortment of vibrators and dildos in a barrage of sizes, shapes and colors. According to Gross, Good Vibrations is a big proponent of electric vibrators.
"Plug 'em in and you're raring to go. The battery operated type are cheaply made and have a tendency to break or wear out at key moments."
"And just in case you thought that vibrators were just for women," she said, "we also have an assortment of attachments for boys including our come cup, vibro sleeve and Circle-T vibe."
She said that sex toys are one of the safest methods of sex.
She defined safe sex as any sexual exchange where there is no body fluid exchange -- especially blood or semen.
Coordinators of the event were pleased with the turnout. This program was designed to set people at ease about sexuality. "Our focus is to normalize sexuality and especially the things that we're most embarrassed to talk about -- latex and vibrators," Melina Mellor, a volunteer for Eros said.
"If we can get it out into the open, it won't be a big deal anymore. When we are able to free ourselves up from embarrassment, we can get away from death and disease."
After the talk, students were invited to sample the merchandise. An enthusiastic group tested the various dildos, vibrators and oils. One student was particularly excited about the Tongue Vibe -- that according to the Spring catalogs is an 11 inch tongue that has five speeds and flickers in a "lifelike and delightfully consistent" manner.
"I think people are usually shy about sexuality," Roxanne Ware, a senior in the psychology department said. "Sex is fun. It can be enjoyable without penetration. There's so much more to it."
"Vibrators have come a long way," Gross said. "Today people can come in to a well-lit place and get honest, straight forward answers about how to use them."
According to the book "Good Vibrations" by Joani Blank, founder of the worker-owned cooperative, early vibrators were used in the late 18th century by doctors to treat "hysteria" in women. It was the doctor's job to induce orgasm.
Blank started Good Vibrations in 1977 when she worked as a marriage, family and child counselor. She was working with pre-orgasmic women and had suggested to them that they go buy vibrators. They complained that there was no "nice" place they could go and feel comfortable. She decided to make one.
Eros also distributed safer-sex kits and offered testing of Non-Oxynol 9. According to Mellor, some women are allergic to the spermicide which started out as an industrial cleaner. People sometimes attribute the discomfort caused by the spermicide to the condom when its actually the spermicide. Kits with and without Non-Oxyonol 9 were offered.
Student Health Services and the S.A.F.E. Place distributed flyers on the services offered through their programs.
Eros was established to promote positive and healthy attitudes towards sexuality and sexually related issues. For the past 23 years, they have been educating the campus community through a variety of services, programs and referrals.
Services include peer counseling and referrals, a lending library, speakers, films and discussions.
The Eros office is located in the Cesar Chavez Student Union Mezzanine 109.