Faith Kroll (PICTURES): Northwestern Univ. Prof. apologizes for sex-toy demonstration

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Faith Kroll

/ Personal Photo

(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - Northwestern University professor J. Michael Bailey has apparently realized that having Faith Kroll and her fiancee Jim Marcus demonstrate the use of a sex toy at a recent gathering for his human sexuality class may have not been a wise decision.

PICTURES: Faith Kroll

The psychology professor apologized Saturday, but said he still sees "absolutely no harm" in what happened.

Bailey said he regrets hurting Northwestern's reputation and "upsetting so many people in this particular manner. I apologize."

The incident took place Feb. 21. After a class on human sexuality, Bailey invited students to stay for a discussion of sexual fetishes. He repeatedly warned that it would be graphic.

The discussion included Kroll stripping nude and allowing Marcus to use a motorized sex toy on her.

In a statement, Bailey said he had never before allowed something like that and would not allow it again.

"During a time of financial crisis, war, and global warming, this story has been a top news story for more than two days," Bailey said. "That this is so reveals a stark difference of opinion between people like me, who see absolutely no harm in what happened, and those who believe that it was profoundly wrong."

The school initially defended the demonstration, but Northwestern President Morton Schapiro subsequently said he was troubled and disappointed by the incident and promised an investigation.

Many alumni and parents have also condemned it.

Bailey said critics have not made a compelling case. He said he would give them an "F" if he were grading their arguments.

"Offense and anger are not arguments," he wrote. "But I remain open to hearing and reading good arguments."

About 100 students attended the after-class, optional seminar on fetishes.

Click here for complete coverage of the Northwestern sex toy demonstration on Crimesider.

10 Photos

Northwestern Univ. sex toy demonstrators

View the Full Gallery »

10 Comments +

Add a Comment


by JonInJax March 11, 2011 8:33 PM EST: My college classes were never like this:-/ I think this clas would have really helped my GPA, lord knows I studied a lot..; Reply to this comment

by n014u March 7, 2011 10:13 PM EST

Oh, for Pete's sake, we all know what a vagina is and how it works. I can understand teaching the students about sex toys, but what was the purpose behind doing a live demonstration? Turning on the device alone should have been enough to explain how it works. And if the students aren't smart enough to figure out how an electric, phallic-shaped object that moves forward and backward is used, they need to go back to High School and take a sex ed course.

I'm not a prude, but this is ridiculous.

Reply to this comment


by faithkroll March 8, 2011 11:53 PM EST: Actually, there is a lot of controversy in many sexuality classes about how the vagina works. There was a live demonstration to prove what was previously stated wrong. Without proof it is my word against yours.(theirs/his/hers/whoever) Turning the device on did show how it worked. (there's an ON switch) It didn't explain why it worked best to demonstrate the specific type of g-spot "O" that everyone was being told may not exist. It doesn't show the student's how to use something like that safely. It doesn't explain why someone would be willing to do a demonstration in public, or explain what it feels like. (the difference from one "O" to the other.)

You may think it was ridiculous, but the student's present at the time found it informative. Perhaps if you were there and knew the what and why's, or even had the chance to ask your own questions, then you could agree.

by andacar March 7, 2011 9:58 PM EST

You do realize of course that Faith Kroll has one interest in all this and one interest only. I'll give you a hint: it isn't to teach anything to anybody. She and her smirking boyfriend are all about getting attention, publicity, and hopefully some controversy attached to them. You can see it in her face; it's all about LOOK AT ME! DIG ME! PAY ATTENTION TO ME! PLEASE GET MAD AT WHAT I'M DOING! She is at about the same intellectual and emotional level of the four year olds that go around showing their siblings their mouth full of chewed food. She lives for the drama. I say we shouldn't give it to her.

Reply to this comment


by faithkroll March 8, 2011 11:59 PM EST: Well, you just did so isn't that ironic? ^__^ And in case you haven't noticed I nor my husband have been media crazed. did you notice this site took pics from my Facebook, so why not pose for one? people were making up whatever they wanted before we issued any statement. The media wants your attention, I have and have always gotten enough attention. Anyway, have a great day.

by brooks_mom March 7, 2011 4:09 PM EST

I don't see anything wrong with his presentation. He told these adult students what was going on. They chose to view it. Its a human sexuality class. And that's what he was teaching. If he was teaching a forensics class there would be insanely graphic pictures and videos of murders and other deaths. And nothing would be said about that. Its what they signed up for.

Reply to this comment


by cbs_bull March 7, 2011 6:54 PM EST: Well said.


by n014u March 7, 2011 10:16 PM EST: "If he was teaching a forensics class there would be insanely graphic pictures and videos of murders and other deaths."

Yes, there would be pictures, NOT a live demonstration of him murdering someone.


by rocketjl March 7, 2011 10:58 AM EST: I guess this guy feels that murder is OK to demonstrate in the class room. Once it is all done and someone complains, for whatever reason, he will apologize and expect everyone to go about their lives, undisturbed.; Reply to this comment