Harvard students create erotic magazine H Bomb

Last week, Harvard University approved a request to start a student publication called H Bomb, which would feature articles about sex -- and more controversially -- photographs of nude Harvard students.\nThe two undergraduates who proposed the magazine, sophomore Katharina C. Baldegg and junior Camilla A. Hrdy, say they want to provide an avenue for student discussion -- not promote pornography. \n"Although it may have nudes or feature erotica, it's a literary arts magazine about issues of sexuality," Hrdy told The Harvard Crimson, the university's student newspaper. "It's about being open about sexuality."\nThe magazine, though still in the planning stages, gained national attention when Harvard's Committee on College Life approved the publication on the basis of free speech.\nSome people in the IU community are now debating what would happen if such a magazine was published in Bloomington.\nSenior Craig Haines said he thinks the publication would be successful.\n"There definitely would be a market for (a magazine like) that," he said, "especially because IU has hotter girls than Harvard." \nThe IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct states student publications are not required to be approved by the University, though such authorization can be helpful for a fledgling student publication. \n"Groups that choose this route don't receive the benefits of student organizations, such as access to leadership support, some sources of funding, UITS account, mailboxes and other campus resources," Assistant Dean of Students Steve Veldkamp said. \nThe Code says non-University sanctioned student publications still have the right to be free of censorship.\n"The institution would not have a rule unless financially supporting those publications," Dean of Students Richard McKaig said. \nMcKaig said IU guarantees students' rights regarding distribution of publications as long as they comply with certain rules concerning when and where it occurs. \n"We have a student right defined about publication," he said. "The time, place and manner issues have to do with the sheer logistics having to do with maintaining a university."\nThough the publication of a magazine at IU like H Bomb could make for a public relations nightmare for IU's administration, McKaig said he thinks its affect on IU's reputation would depend on whose opinion was asked.\n"It depends on the audience," he said. "Some people find it outrageous, others are less concerned. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder."\nBefore any articles are written or photographs taken, magazines still need to find enough funds in order to get published. At Harvard, the university approval only allows H Bomb to apply for grants from groups which provide money for student activities. \nIUSA handles student group financial transactions at IU with the exception of organizations that receive money directly from the University, such as Union Board and IU Student Television, said Veldkamp, who is also director of student activities. If a publication does not receive funding from IUSA, it can also be sponsored by an academic department, he said. \nBut many academic departments might hesitate to add their names to such a controversial publication. \n"We like to be a resource for all kinds of student groups," said Jennifer Bass, head of Information Services at the Kinsey Institute. "I'm not saying we wouldn't give information if asked, but we probably wouldn't sponsor anything quite like that." \nAlthough most student publications at IU are free, one without University or departmental funding might make its money by selling it instead of giving it away. \n"I pay for the price of a beer," Haines said. "I'd probably sacrifice a beer for a magazine (like that)."\n-- Contact staff writer Colleen Corley at ccorley@indiana.edu.