A Week-Long Lesson In Sexual Responsibility

By: Emily Abbate

Posted: 2/13/08

After a long week, a majority of UConn students look forward to pushing most, if not all, responsibility aside when it comes to the weekend. Many are encouraged to make safe drinking and sexual decisions, but the question remains: how safe are the decisions that students are ultimately making?

This week Health Education Services is making a push to remind students about the responsibilities that go along with being sexually active. Feb. 11 to 15 is Sexual Responsibility Awareness Week. Health Ed will be in South Dining Hall from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. today, providing students with information about sexuality issues including safer sex handouts for students.

Pamphlets will also be distributed about the presidential candidate views of sexuality issues such as abortion, gay marriage and sexuality education according to Joleen Nevers, Health Education coordinator.

"We would like for students to think about these issues and vote for a person that best represents their views and values on all issues including sexuality," said Nevers. "Our tabling this week also will have some fun and creative aspects to it as students will be able to make cards for friends, partners or roommates for Valentine's Day. For students who are too busy, we have pre-made cards for them to grab and go."

Although a focus this week, Health Ed is always providing ways for students on the UConn campus to keep safe.

"We offer dental dams, lubrication and different types of condoms," said Nevers. "We supply condoms to students who come to our office, to CAs, Cultural Centers and some offices on campus. The office also supports people who choose abstinence and we offer abstinence kits with some fun items such as popcorn or animal Crackers and rubber ducks or Play-Doh with supportive information about their choice."

Additionally, Health Education offers free rapid HIV testing each month located in South, and will be aiding in a free syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Student Union.

According to cdc.gov, many teens often replace intercourse with various alternatives they perceive as safer. In accordance with this, more than 50 percent of U.S. teenagers ages 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex, a number that increases to almost 70 percent for those who are 18 and 19, according to the Web site. However, in college relationships, where dorm rooms and living on your own are a first, alone time is plentiful and alcohol and other drugs have the power to influence sexual decision making, responsibility is a component that may or may not be a primary factor in all decision making.

"For students who are unable to attend, Health Education has a list of testing clinics off campus that are low cost to free. STD testing can also be accessed through Student Health Service's Primary Care for men and Women's Clinic for women," said Nevers. "We offer sexuality programs throughout the year to students in FYE classes, student group presentations, residential life programming, orientation and guest lectures in several classes."

To round out Sexual Responsibility Awareness Week, Health Ed is sponsoring late night mocktails & condoms at the Student Union Friday at 9 p.m.