With the UC Board of Regents’ recent announcement to curtail 2009-10 freshmen enrollment and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to raise student fees, UCSD students currently hold a coveted seat at one of the top public universities in the nation, with access to many opportunities from studying at the beach to researching in world-class science labs. However, numerous resources ‘mdash; namely, those supporting students’ sexual health and safety ‘mdash; remain undiscovered by the majority of those who pay for them.
According to the American College Health Association, which gathers data about students’ habits, behaviors and perceptions on various health topics, about half of UCSD’s student body is sexually active. Undergraduate and graduate students participated in the ACHA’s National College Health Assessment for the first time in 2008, answering questions about their daily activities. Of the UCSD respondents, 41.5 percent reported having no sexual partner within the past academic year (compared to the national average of 31.4 percent); 44 pe
rcent reported having just one sexual partner.
Data from last year’s National College Health Assessment also revealed that 9.6 percent of UCSD students reported having unprotected sex after consuming alcohol, compared to the national average of 14.2 percent.
Despite the new statistics labeling Tritons as less sexually active than the national average, Student Health Services officials said providing educational resources that encourage students, single or not, to adopt a mature and responsible attitude toward sexual activity is vital.
‘I think it’s really important that we do offer these services at Student Health and that students are aware of them just so they know they can take control of their sexual health and be proactive,’ Student Health Peer Health Eduation Coordinator Katie Harris said.
In an attempt to make sexual education more approachable, Student Health provides outreach workshops for residential halls and student organizations that include activities like Sexual Jeopardy, Sexual Taboo and BYOBanana, which are designed to teach students about STD prevention and sexual health through trivia and interactive games. In 2008 alone, Student Health distributed about 15,000 free condoms ‘mdash; 10,000 in clinics and outreach and 5,000 at Student Health Advocates’ annual events.
Student Health also sells condoms, birth-control pills and emergency contraception at discounted prices.
Earl Warren College junior and resident adviser Stacey Hunsucker will be hosting one of Student Health’s safe-sex outreach workshops for her residents later this quarter.
‘[RAs] are not required by any means to talk about sex or do any specific programming about it, but this is my decision,’ Hunsucker said. ‘I personally may not want to encourage sex to the residents on my floor, but I know we are all adults here and everyone is going to make their own choices ‘hellip; and for those choosing to have sex, I want to make sure they are well informed and protected.’
Student Health also offers free women’s and men’s sexual-health information sessions multiple times per week, with topics covering birth-control methods, breast and testicular self-examinations, sexually transmitted infection prevention and information about tests for sexually transmitted infections, which are becoming more regularly included in annual check-ups.
‘People may think that students know these facts and resources, and yet they may not actually be aware of them,’ said Nancy Wahlig, director of the Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Resource Center. ‘So often our information is focused on first-year students and those living on campus. Sometimes, a transfer student may not even know these resources are available, that they are paying for it with their registration fees and there are professional resources that can benefit them.’
Appointments can be made online for all confidential sexual health services such as routine gynecological exams, Pap smears, pregnancy testing, counseling services and STI exams ‘mdash; all offered with student discounts. Student Health provides confidential, walk-in HIV testing at no cost to students under SHIP. HPV vaccines are also available to various SHIP students at a 50 percent discount without an appointment. Additionally, the San Diego County Office of Public Health periodically hosts a booth on Library Walk with free, rapid and anonymous HIV testing.
‘People here don’t realize that there’s a place on campus where you can get tested,’ Earl Warren freshman Amanda Goodman said. ‘I think people need to know that it’s available, a fast-turn-around, anonymous and just between you and your doctor. I’ve heard so many people say they’ve never gotten tested because they don’t know where to go. Some people are not monogamous here ‘mdash; people are having sex with multiple partners and don’t use protection and aren’t getting tested.’
Confidentiality, according to Student Health, is a key factor in the success of these initiatives; UCSD students are adults and have access to contraception without parental consent.
‘I think when talking about any kind of freedom, information is necessary to make choices,’ Wahlig said. ‘If you have the information, you can make informed choices for yourself ‘hellip; this information on healthy relationships and choices needs to be given to kids in high school, when people are already having unhealthy relationships. It should be accessible by everyone, including parents as well.’
Regardless of sexual practice, health officials stress the need for students to remain informed about safety and prevention.
‘I’m proud of UCSD for being realistic and realizing that college students are going to have sex for the most part ‘mdash; there are certainly some students who don’t, but most students are going to be sexually active,’ Goodman said. ‘Students should just know how resourceful UCSD is; we have so many different resources so that students can just be safe and healthy. People should be taking advantage of that the second they get to campus, they shouldn’t just be finding out their senior year.’
SARC provides free and confidential counseling and support for those impacted by sexual assault, dating violence and stalking; the Office of Sexual Harassment Prevention and Policy outlines sexual harassment and aids in complaint investigation and resolution; the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center helps students explore issues relating to sexual and gender identities, practices and politics; Counseling and Psychological Services offers free and confidential counseling to all students and offices are located within each college for convenience.
Readers can contact Ashley Lee at [email protected].