Let’s Talk about Safe Sex

Both students and faculty are seeing an increase in university-wide awareness of HIV. Within this, Student Health Services is providing HIV testing for students.

HIV has been a concern for college-age Americans since its discovery many years ago. At this university, fear of the virus increased when a male student was incarcerated for having sexual relations with numerous females without revealing that he was HIV positive.

“The attitude that most students have is that it won’t happen to them,” said Melissa Check, a freshman at GC&SU.

Unfortunately, such an attitude can prove destructive, not only for the infected person but for the family and friends of the victim as well.

“I think there are a lot of myths about how HIV is contracted and spread,” said Bret Benson, a sophomore resident. “I would like to see more programs done to inform students of the truths about the virus.”

The clinic is doing its best to push such programs. For instance, they are working in association with the residence halls to teach the students more about HIV.

Alice Loper, the clinic director, is planning to acquire the help of the residence hall staff members to set up programs that will hopefully educate the residents about the reality of the virus.

“I hope that with the cooperation of this many people, we can impact the students enough to get them to take advantage of the available testing,” said Loper.

It is the clinic’s goal this year to try new and different approaches to HIV awareness. Current proposals for programs include humor skits, video’s, ice cream parties and well-known speakers. The clinic is trying to schedule a day for a pair of instructors who specialize in making a gender specific question and answer session especially fun.

It is not only the faculty of the university that supports testing so much, but also the students. The students, and especially the student staff, strongly encourage their peers to find some time to be tested.

“Students need to know about HIV and its effects because it’s their future and their health that they have to think about,” said Josh Aldredge, a resident of Napier Hall. “I think that by offering this kind of testing, the university is taking a large step in protecting the lives of the students here on campus as well as setting a good example for them to carry throughout their hometowns.”

“I encourage students to go get themselves tested if for any reason they feel unsure about the possibility of having the virus,” said Aldredge. “They need to understand that they’re not invincible.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 7 2001. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry