For students, the weekend parties and Homecoming celebrations begin today after classes end, and Ball State University's Department of Health Education has some sex safety tips for students to keep in mind.
The Department of Health Education and its Peer Health Education group will promote their Clean-N-Safe campaign today at an information and activity table in the Art and Journalism Building's Atrium from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. This campaign is devoted to informing students about the prevention and treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhea and other sexual health issues.
"The campaign just worked out well with Homecoming being on Saturday and with parties on Friday," Lisa Thomason, health educator, said. "Traditionally, Homecoming activities have been associated with alcohol consumption, and study after study correlates alcohol consumption with risky behavior. Risky behavior such as unprotected sex will be the focus of this campaign."
This is the first Clean-N-Safe campaign being done on campus, and the Department of Health Education feels it is important for students.
"Our primary goal is to encourage sexually active students to be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea," Thomason said.
Chlamydia is the most common and curable sexually transmitted infection (STI), and 60 percent of all cases occur in 15- to 24-year-olds.
"It's hard to track exactly how many cases of any specific STI are here on campus," Thomason said. "The numbers are not all that accurate because many students go home to a family doctor to get tested, but surveys have been done that rank chlamydia as the No. 1 STI here."
The Amelia T. Wood Student Health Center provides urine tests to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea. One urine test can detect both types of bacteria, and the test is confidential.
"The test is new enough that people still think they must have a painful pelvic exam or cotton swabbing," Thomason said. "A lot of people are not aware that the urine option is available."
Students who stop by the table today can expect information on the meaning of abstinence and other sexual health information.
"There will be updated statistics on chlamydia and gonorrhea and on how they pertain to college students," Tikisa Walker, a graduate assistant for health education, said. "For the most part, I think it will be a pretty good success."
Students can also participate in the "Latex Line-Up" at the table. "Latex Line-Up" is a matching game consisting of 15 or more steps to putting on a condom, which students must put in the correct order.
"This will be fun for us and the students," Thomason said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
