2008 Woodie Awards
Love Safely
Sex education fair in Linn Hall lobby reminds students about their options
Nikki Hynek
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The lobby of Linn Hall was bursting at the seams with sex education pamphlets in an attempt to reach and inform students at the Love Safely Fair on Tuesday, March 20.
The annual event is a program designed to promote awareness and understanding about an array of topics such as healthy sex, family planning, date rape and birth control. The fair was orchestrated by Nancy Sauerman, Kirkwood social science professor, who recognized a need for students to become more informed and educated about sex.
"I teach a human sexuality class and I noticed that even the most sexually savvy students didn't know a lot about safe and healthy sex," stated Sauerman. "One of the goals of this fair is to inform students about the agencies within the community that are here to serve and help them," added Sauerman.
Among the agencies participating were Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa, Healthy Linn Care Network, Waypoint, St. Luke's Hospital, Rapids Aids Project and Kirkwood's Campus Health. Each booth was represented by educators who talked with students, answered questions and gave out contest prizes.
A booth that created talk among students was the Rapids Aids Project, a program designed to educate students about HIV and AIDS and equip them with the knowledge of preventing STDs.
"The purpose of our booth is to provide facts to students about AIDS and disprove the myths of AIDS," said Jessica Jacobo, Kirkwood student and AIDS peer educator. She noted that it's important for students to be tested for AIDS and it's necessary that students know where they can be tested for free in the area.
Another peer educator and student, Louetta Finch, stated, "We want the students to know about us, let them know they can call or e-mail us anytime if they want to talk, get a referral for being tested or just talk if they have no one else to confide in."
The Waypoint agencies table was lined with handouts about company services and healthy relationships. "Waypoint offers many great services and I'm here to encourage those services to students," said Kira, a waypoint victim advocate. Waypoint's emphasis is domestic violence, which they offer many accommodations for including: Support groups, intervention programs, child care services and outreach education.
The annual event is a program designed to promote awareness and understanding about an array of topics such as healthy sex, family planning, date rape and birth control. The fair was orchestrated by Nancy Sauerman, Kirkwood social science professor, who recognized a need for students to become more informed and educated about sex.
"I teach a human sexuality class and I noticed that even the most sexually savvy students didn't know a lot about safe and healthy sex," stated Sauerman. "One of the goals of this fair is to inform students about the agencies within the community that are here to serve and help them," added Sauerman.
Among the agencies participating were Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa, Healthy Linn Care Network, Waypoint, St. Luke's Hospital, Rapids Aids Project and Kirkwood's Campus Health. Each booth was represented by educators who talked with students, answered questions and gave out contest prizes.
A booth that created talk among students was the Rapids Aids Project, a program designed to educate students about HIV and AIDS and equip them with the knowledge of preventing STDs.
"The purpose of our booth is to provide facts to students about AIDS and disprove the myths of AIDS," said Jessica Jacobo, Kirkwood student and AIDS peer educator. She noted that it's important for students to be tested for AIDS and it's necessary that students know where they can be tested for free in the area.
Another peer educator and student, Louetta Finch, stated, "We want the students to know about us, let them know they can call or e-mail us anytime if they want to talk, get a referral for being tested or just talk if they have no one else to confide in."
The Waypoint agencies table was lined with handouts about company services and healthy relationships. "Waypoint offers many great services and I'm here to encourage those services to students," said Kira, a waypoint victim advocate. Waypoint's emphasis is domestic violence, which they offer many accommodations for including: Support groups, intervention programs, child care services and outreach education.
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