Sex: Be safe, always use protection

Sex is something students encounter on an almost daily basis. From television shows like MTV’s “Skins,” to popular rap songs like Rihanna’s “S&M,” it seems that sex is a topic that no one can escape. Yet, if this culture seems to have so many outlets teaching young people the ins and outs of sex, why are students continuing to engage in sexual activities without using protection?

“I don’t have sex, but I do know that you should never do it without a condom. Wrap it before you tap it”

Roxy Russell, Sophomore Mass Communication Major

“I hear about so many students saying they didn’t think they needed to wear protection because they were just ‘messing around,’” said Alice Loper, director of Health Services. “I don’t think students understand they can still receive an STD through any sexual activity, not just full on sexual intercourse.”

Although the number of reported STDs on Georgia College’s campus is fairly low -around three percent of those treated/diagnosed at the clinic—sexually transmitted diseases are still no joke.

“We have to report many cases of STDs to the state level, from things like gonorrhea to HIV,” Loper said.

Sophomore mass communication major Roxy Russell agrees that using protection is always the only way to go in the bedroom.

“I don’t have sex, but I do know that you should never have sex without a condom,” Russell said. “Wrap it before you tap it.”

SGA Treasurer-elect Sean Espinosa also commented on the topic.

“I think people should wait until marriage to have sex, personally,” Espinosa said. “However, if you’re going to have sex, make sure you know the outcome of what could happen if you don’t use protection.”

Freshman marketing major Adrienne Warren agrees that unprotected sex, especially with the mixture of alcohol, can lead to undesirable outcomes.

“I know a lot of friends who have unprotected sex because they are taking birth control,” Warren said. “But I don’t think they realize that alcohol lessens the effects of birth control. Unless you want to have a baby, you should always wear a condom no matter what.”

Loper also discussed a survey being sent out to approximately 4,000 students and is sponsored by the American College Health Association. Loper encourages every student to fill the survey out because these questionnaires are the main source for data pertaining to sexual activties amongst students. As a reward, items such as an iPod nano, a digital camera, a GPS device, gift certificated and T-shirts will be given to a number of students who fill the survey out.

“The most important thing we want them to know is that the survey is anonymous. We have no way of tracking their answers,” Loper said.

Freshman criminal justice major Rachel Denney advocates for the use of condoms, even though it may be more pleasurable to have sex without one.

“I know it is tempting to have sex without using a condom because it feels better without one, but their is still no excuse to having sex without one,” Denney said. “Why not use protection when you can get condoms for free?”

Posted by ConnorJohnson on Mar 10 2011. Filed under Close Up, Special Sections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.