Over 200 students gathered in the Mabel Brown Room last Tuesday for an event that has quickly become one of the most talked-about traditions of the year: Sex Toy Bingo.
For first-year Sam Cusumano, he said the anticipation had been building for this event since his first days on campus.
“I’ve been told about Sex Toy Bingo since the first day I got here,” he said. “I’ve been plotting on going ever since.”
Having already attended other bingo events earlier in the year, where prizes could reach up to $100 in value, Cusumano said he was eager to experience this version, which he described as both entertaining and meaningful. Beyond the novelty, he emphasized the accessibility of the event.
“It gives an opportunity of pleasure to people who might not be able to afford these things,” he explained.
The event, organized by the Feminist Collective (FemCo), is more than just a game night. According to junior Cait Erban, the club’s current secretary and incoming treasurer, Sex Toy Bingo is an annual tradition designed with a clear purpose.
“It’s pretty much just regular bingo, but the prizes are sex toys,” she said. “The message behind it is to destigmatize sex toys, especially in relationships.”
This year, the organizers said they placed a particular emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring that prizes were not limited to a single demographic. “Previous years were mostly focused on women,” Erban said, “but this time it’s more inclusive [so] that anybody can use them.”
The timing of the event also aligns with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, adding another layer of significance. In collaboration with the Wellness Center, the event included access to contraceptives and educational resources. With the goal of making sexual education entertaining, FemCo members said they hoped to create a space where students could engage with topics that are often considered uncomfortable in a relaxed and approachable way.
Junior Alice Breisch, treasurer of FemCo and soon-to-be president, said they see the event as a cornerstone for revitalizing the organization’s presence on campus.
“This is our big event of the year,” they said. “We’re really trying to boost awareness about the Feminist Collective.”
For Breisch, the stakes are both personal and communal. They described the club as having been “in a weird spot” in recent years, and they said they hope events like this will help reignite student interest and involvement.
Beyond Sex Toy Bingo, Breisch said the Feminist Collective works to support students in tangible ways, such as stocking campus bathrooms with essential items like pads, tampons and pregnancy tests. The club also engages in advocacy and awareness initiatives, promoting feminist ideals and encouraging student voices in political and social discussions.
“We want to be a space where people can express feminist ideals and be heard,” Breisch explained. “It’s important to have something like that on campus.”
As for the event itself, excitement filled the room–not just for the prizes, which were intentionally kept a surprise, but for the atmosphere of openness and connection. Students arrived with friends, some curious and others already enthusiastic advocates. Even Cusumano said he managed to recruit members of his fraternity, drawn in by what he described as “silly fun.”
Sophia Merenda can be contacted at
smerenda@kscequinox.com
