The difference between love and herpes
Preventing STDs in one of the highest regions despite drop in numbers
Lindsey Oyler
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Garcia said that the education would be enough to help prevent STDs, but not enough people are exposed to the information. If they were it would be different.
"Basically college kids can prevent STD's by making sure that if they are sexually active to not confuse the facts of what is safe," Santanello said. "Use a condom and use it right."
Sociology professor Elizabeth Stygar said she hopes the presentation will inform and shock the students into protecting themselves and passing on the information.
"I'd like to think that [students] use the information from the presentation in their own lives," Stygar said. "Statistically, the majority of the class has had sex already. The pictures might scare them enough into using a condom. Hopefully it opened their eyes and maybe helped them to talk to their friends about it."
The presentation may have prompted some students to take more precautions, but Garcia said she feels most students aren't completely prepared to protect themselves as much from STDs as perhaps a pregnancy.
"I don't think we're prepared totally," Garcia said. "Most college women are on the [birth control] pill, and they focus on pregnancy. I think it helps though."
Health services, doctors' pamphlets and the Internet are the suggested and easy routes to finding out more concerning STDs.
"It's important," Stygar said. "College students are sexually active. With the idea of sex with no strings attached, it's good to be in the know."
Santanello left students questioning whether a short-term activity is worth the potentially long-term consequences.
"The difference between love and herpes is that herpes lasts forever," Santanello said.
"Basically college kids can prevent STD's by making sure that if they are sexually active to not confuse the facts of what is safe," Santanello said. "Use a condom and use it right."
Sociology professor Elizabeth Stygar said she hopes the presentation will inform and shock the students into protecting themselves and passing on the information.
"I'd like to think that [students] use the information from the presentation in their own lives," Stygar said. "Statistically, the majority of the class has had sex already. The pictures might scare them enough into using a condom. Hopefully it opened their eyes and maybe helped them to talk to their friends about it."
The presentation may have prompted some students to take more precautions, but Garcia said she feels most students aren't completely prepared to protect themselves as much from STDs as perhaps a pregnancy.
"I don't think we're prepared totally," Garcia said. "Most college women are on the [birth control] pill, and they focus on pregnancy. I think it helps though."
Health services, doctors' pamphlets and the Internet are the suggested and easy routes to finding out more concerning STDs.
"It's important," Stygar said. "College students are sexually active. With the idea of sex with no strings attached, it's good to be in the know."
Santanello left students questioning whether a short-term activity is worth the potentially long-term consequences.
"The difference between love and herpes is that herpes lasts forever," Santanello said.
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