Sex may be common on college campuses, but some UA students still blush at the content of classes that aren't shy when it comes to discussing the original sin.

Laura Celmins, an astronomy sophomore, took a class taught by professor Albrecht Classen last semester entitled "Eroticism in the Middle Ages." She said that although the class content was less risquŽ than the name might imply, many students were there for one thing and one thing only.

"It's a literature-based class, but a lot of students there didn't know anything about literature," Celmins said. "They were just there for the sex."

Classen's class is one of the most popular general education courses and is always quick to fill.

"This class deals with one of the fundamental issues of life, literature and culture," Classen said. "It's not too graphic or titillating."

Classen said, however, that the class name may be misleading to some students who are drawn to the course with wayward intentions, adding that every year a few students show up hoping the class lives up to its erotic tag.

"I always explicitly state that this is not a class about sexuality," Classen said. "The texts we are dealing with are the highest artistic works of their time."

The class has, however, received a complaint or two from concerned parents or state legislators who objected to its steamy subject matter, Classen said.

"If you are afraid to experience life, then you might as well lock up your child in a prison and not send them to the university at all," Classen said.

Another course, "Human Sexuality," which is offered by the psychology department, covers topics from sexual deviancy to arousal.

Psychology Department Head Alfred Kaszniak said the course is beneficial to the student body, including many students who are just beginning to explore the world of sex.

"Sexuality is at the core level of everybody's life, so it's nice to learn something about it," Kaszniak said.

The course is one of the most popular in the department, but Kaszniak said he doesn't believe the enrollment is influenced by the student body's perceived obsession with sex.

"I suspect that there may be a student who joins the class hoping that it's titillating, but in that case, the student would drop out within a week," Kaszniak said.

The class delves into the biology of sex and in-depth discussion about heterosexuality, homosexuality and what causes people to be turned on or sexually deviant.

Kaszniak and Classen both agree that sexuality is not a topic to sweep under the rug at a public university, regardless of the occasional complaint about the subject matter.

Kaszniak added that UA students are lucky to have forums in which they can discuss the many facets of fornication.

"There are some personal and cultural histories where even the discussion of sex is taboo," Kaszniak said.

Professors usually request that students make them aware of any feelings of discomfort stemmed from class content. But Celmins said from her experience in a "sexy class," students welcomed the more colorful discussions.

"The class was full of people who would start cheering every time the professor said a sexual word or even the name of the class," Celmins said.

Darcy Nelson, a renewable natural resources junior, said she finds it hard to believe students would have trouble dealing with adult content, adding that she thinks classes about sex belong at UA.

"I wouldn't think a class would draw students just because it's erotic," Nelson said.

Other students said they were surprised, not by their peers' immaturity dealing with sex, but by certain school officials' reaction to the "eroticism" classes.

"My counselor suggested that I take that class," said Ryan Taylor, music freshman. "He said, ÎWell here's that sex class everybody wants to get into.'"

Classen's course will be offered again in the fall, and "Human Sexuality" will be offered in all three summer sessions.