Beware unwanted Valentine’s impressions

     Valentine’s Day has come and gone for yet another year.
    It brought with it hoards of chocolaty treats and little bears that, upon pressing their tiny paw, will swear they love you.
     It has left, with its passing, these same chocolaty treats and irresistible bears, only half price.   Pink and red balloons are left to slowly lose their edge on gravity and make their way back to earth.  
    With all the leftover love still in the air, and plenty of opportunities to share this love, it is important for students to be aware of the downsides that may accompany their actions. 
    This week at GCSU was sexual awareness week.  Organizations around campus focused on everything from sexual health to sexual responsibility. 
    University Health Educator Rachel Sullivan helped lead the way in promoting both awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. 
    “We are trying to give out as many condoms as possible but support abstinence also,” she said. 
    A.N.G.E.L.S (Aids Now Grasps Every Living Soul) made their presence known this week on campus also.  The organization hosted a number of events that the group hopes helped to make a difference.
    Tameka Dean, a sophomore, is the president of A.N.G.E.L.S.  Even though the club’s focus is on the awareness of HIV/AIDS, she thinks it is important that students are practicing healthy behavior. 
    “We want students to be more compassionate about the issue and learn that awareness is more than ‘put on a condom’ or ‘be abstinent’.  It is a social issue too. People find themselves being detached from it as though it is everyone else’s problem. AIDS is definitely at GCSU…why wouldn’t it be?” she said.
    College students have the outlook that flying under the radar and ignoring problems will make them go away.  STD prevention and getting tested is not taken seriously, many times, because students think it will never happen to them. 
    “STD’s are a big concern because they can be life threatening.  Here on this campus it is seen as a joke but it is a big concern to know your sexual history; yours and your partner’s,” Sullivan said.  “(STD’s) can affect everything from your future children to your future partners.” 
    One major factor in students going without getting tested is the awkward factor associated with the tests.  A misconception that could have dire consequences.
    Dean offers a simple solution to those who are apprehensive. 
    “Concern for your own life should be incentive enough (to get tested). However, it is good to get tested to show support for the cause. It would help alleviate the stigma attached to getting tested, where people feel that they have to have an urgent reason. Suppose your friend was nervous about getting tested after having unprotected sex. If you went with him/her or go in groups to get tested, you would be showing them your support and make it a lot less scary.”
    The nurses at the Student Health Center make it a priority to cater to the student.  If a student receives a positive test, the nurses make themselves available for counseling. 
    “Our nurses are there for support.  There’s no judgment,” Sullivan said.  “Everything is confidential and HIV testing can be anonymous.”
    The main thing is to be aware. “It affects everyone and it is everyone’s problem. That is the message that I want to get across,” said Dean. 
     An everyday reminder of sexual health is as easy as ABC.  Sullivan offers this handy advice to anyone wishing to promote sexual responsibility. 
    A-Abstinance.  There’s no risk for anything
    B-Be faithful, try to stay with one partner.  Be aware
    C-Always use a condom.  Every time
    Inform yourself on the hazards that are out there.  The health center is here for any queries and eager to help. 
    “Information is available everywhere! Don’t get me wrong, we do have really nice pamphlets to hand out. However, to become aware you have to take the initiative to educate yourself and do your best to make good judgments,” Dean said. 
    Valentine’s Day may be over for now, but the decisions made on any occasion can have lasting effects.  Even when Cupid’s arrow is proving a hard task to dodge, there is no point in dodging it forever.  Just take the necessary precautions. 

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 16 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry