Fifty percent of sexually active individuals will contract a sexually transmitted disease by age 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only 53 percent of University of Idaho students use condoms during vaginal intercourse, according to statistics from the National College Health Association.
Abi Stomberg | Argonaut
The Washington State University Rowing Team visited the University of Idaho to show their support for the “One Billion Rising” flash mob Thursday in the Idaho Commons. Afterward the team made personalized Valentine’s cards at the “Cookies, Condoms, and Valentine’s” event, which also took place in the Idaho Commons.
To encourage safer sex practices, Vandal Health Education coordinated Safe and Sexy week.
Dr. Erin Chapman, who guided Wednesday’s Sex Talks and Blowpops, said a lot of students lack a working knowledge base when it comes to sexual health.
“Despite the prevalence of sex in our society, we do not do a good job of educating our young people on sex and sexuality in this country,” Chapman said.
Chapman said the focus needs to be on open and honest discussion of sex that doesn’t involve scare tactics and helps inform students of both the positives and negatives of sex, and how to limit the risks. According to sexetc.org, Idaho does not mandate sex education, leaving the decision up to local school boards. STD and HIV/AIDS education is not required by the state either. While Idaho accepted $208,264 in federal funds for abstinence-only sex education during the 2007 fiscal year, according to the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education, they rejected such funds in FY2010.
Vandal Health Education interns Kelsey Craft, Jordan Shagina and Michelle Wilson were responsible for organizing Safe and Sexy week events, and agreed the biggest challenge was planning events that are informative, but also fun and inviting.
“We wanted to provide information on contraceptive methods, such as the birth control pill, and barrier methods, such as condoms,” Craft said. “For instance, only barrier methods reduce the risk of both pregnancy and STDs.”
They said some of the events, like Sex Bingo on Feb. 19, will include prizes such as gift cards to the VandalStore or movie tickets.
“We were really involved with planning the events and marketing them,” Shagina said. “We advertised both in the Commons and to living groups around campus.”
They mentioned while the main focus is on sexual education and safer sex practices for those who chose to be sexually active, they don’t want to forget those who choose abstinence.
“We wanted to make our events fun and comfortable for everyone,” Wilson said. “Not just those who choose to be sexually active.”
They mentioned Dr. Chapman’s Sex Talks and Blowpops was selected because they wanted something that was somewhat open-ended and didn’t feel like a lecture to students who chose to attend.
Chapman said Sex Talks and Blowpops started in 2010 when the Living and Learning Community staff contacted her about it. She said it became popular and she was asked to do a bigger presentation for Safe and Sexy Week.
“I decided to use a PowerPoint this time,” Chapman said. “I wanted to avoid the feeling of a lecture, and I was reluctant to do a PowerPoint even, but because there was going to be more people I decided I would need a more structured introduction. I’m going to try to keep the intro short and then we’ll move into a question and answer session. I’m going to try to keep the discussion humorous.”
Chapman said she really hoped the discussion this week would help people see the value of making knowledgeable decisions concerning their sexual health.
“This week is about more than just handing out free condoms,” Chapman said. “It’s about giving people the tools to live healthy, happy lives.”
Safe and Sexy week spans from Feb. 13-21.
Andrew Deskins can be reached at [email protected]