Condom races, lube tasting, and how to make a dental dam - what better way to spend a Thursday night? Next Thursday, Oct. 29, the University chapter of Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, is putting on its Sexual Arts and Crafts Fair that takes place once a semester. This semiannual event aims to educate University students on safe sex and reproductive issues in a fun way. Along with this resource fair, Vox members dress up as "Condom Fairies" each Halloween and hand out free condoms at parties and bars around the University. These activities sponsored by Vox are a great way to address the sexual promiscuity of many college-aged students, and this organization effectively promotes safe sexual practices and informs students of important sexual health issues.
At the Sexual Arts and Crafts Fair, students will have access to medically accurate information on both sexual health and reproductive rights. In the past, information on emergency contraception has also been available, and students have been able to write letters to legislators about reproductive issues. Vox has also provided models of breasts and testicles for students to practice finding cancerous lumps.
There will also be a number of tables set up with fun - but informational - activities. For example, one of the tables will teach participants how to correctly put condoms on assorted fruits and vegetables, and have races to see who can put them on fastest (but accurately). In the past students have been given information on how to make dental dams (to promote safe oral sex practices), and participants have been able to make and decorate their own. There has also been a station where students can taste a number of different flavored lubricants (I'm not sure how much this can teach us, but it sure sounds like fun). Attendees can also decorate wands for the annual Halloween Condom Fairies.
Many American universities have become entrenched in the so-called "hook-up culture," and many students engage in casual sex. To ignore these practices or to try to discourage them is ineffective and irresponsible. A study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 79.5 percent of college students (ages 18-24) are sexually active. In addition, a study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy states that there are, "750,000 teen pregnancies annually. Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended..." Furthermore, over 3 million teen girls contract an STI every year, and 15 percent of those girls have more than one of them. These alarming statistics show just how important it is to provide students with accurate information about all types of contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases and infections, and other sexual health issues. Any event that can reduce these numbers at the University is an important one.
The Sexual Arts and Crafts Fair and the Condom Fairies aim to do just that. By handing out condoms and literature about contraceptives, Vox is taking action against rising pregnancy and STI rates among teens. Some critics may argue that events such as these encourage the hook-up culture and promote casual sex, but that argument is analogous to saying that comprehensive sex-education policies raise rates of teen pregnancy and STIs and that abstinence only education is the most effective form of sex-ed. Many studies have shown the inaccuracy of this statement. In a study completed by the American Psychological Association (APA), it was found that "comprehensive sexuality education programs ... are the most effective in keeping sexually active adolescents disease free."
And if comprehensive sex-ed is best at keeping young people disease free, it stands that distributing condoms and literature on these issues will also keep us college students disease free. So thank you, Vox, for giving me the education that my state-funded Henrico County public school failed to provide. And thank you for providing a fun, open environment for me to ask all of my potentially embarrassing questions. And thanks for all of those free condoms.
So next Thursday at 7:30, I know where I'll be. I'll be in the Newcomb South Meeting Room putting on condoms, finding out my favorite flavor of lube, and learning a little bit more about safe sex. Yeah, it might be a little awkward for some, but at least you're not hearing it from your mom. Or your overweight middle school gym teacher.
Claire Shotwell is a Viewpoint writer for The Cavalier Daily.
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