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NORTON - Sex toys and AIDS education may seem like an odd couple, but not at Wheaton College.

A sex toy party for students tonight is part of AIDS Awareness Week events put on by Wheaton's AIDS Prevention and Education Team student group.

The slate started Monday with the display of a quilt made by family members and friends of people who have died of AIDS. Among the other events are the showing of the movie Rent, a game of "Sex Jeopardy" hosted by Attleboro Family Planning and a discussion with the founder of a national HIV and AIDS group.

All of these events are for Wheaton students only.

Tonight, employees from Miko Exoticwear in Providence will give a sexual health presentation and answer students' questions about sex toys, Prevention and Education Team member David Lopes said Monday. "They talk about what's appropriate, and how to use sex toys and lubricants," Lopes explained.

Students will be able to ask questions anonymously on index cards, he said.

"It's a great way for students to get questions answered that they might not want to ask," Lopes said.

Lopes said that while "we get some looks while we're selling tickets for the sex toy party," the students who organized it take it quite seriously.

The AIDS Prevention and Education Team is "just trying to catch people's interest," he said.

The team also hosted the party last year.

"We thought it would be a good way to get the campus excited about the issue of AIDS awareness," Lopes said.

Wheaton spokesman Michael Graca said last year's event was successful from the organizers' point of view, but was "otherwise uneventful."

"It's clear that the students are trying a number of different types of events to get the attention of their fellow students about this very important issue," Graca said.

Lopes said the team holds events throughout the year, although this happens to be AIDS Awareness Week. "We try to keep the message going out at all times," he said.

The AIDS quilt is on display in the Chapel basement from noon to 5 p.m. through Friday.

Thursday night, the movie Rent, based on the Broadway show, will be shown.

The proceeds of a bake sale Wednesday and Friday will support AIDS awareness.

Friday, Attleboro Family Planning will host "Sex Jeopardy." Students are invited to test their "sex knowledge."

Saturday, which is World AIDS Day, Wheaton students will hear Todd Murray, the founder and executive director of Hope's Voice, a national HIV and AIDS organization that promotes education and awareness of the disease to young adults.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.