Trojan tries to raise UC's sex health GPA

Originally posted 5/12/08

University of Cincinnati students received a crash course in sexual health education on Friday, May 9 on McMicken Commons.

"We want students to be safe if they're choosing to have sex," said Brian Blair, vice president of external affairs for Delta Tau Delta, the host of Slip-N-Slide for Safe Sex. "We're not promoting students to have sex."

According to a Sept. 10, 2007 report card released by Trojan brand condoms, UC ranks 116 out of 139 American universities in sexual health resources. In 2006, UC was ranked as high as 27 out of 100 schools. While the report card was topped by the University of Minnesota and the University of Wyoming with a 3.91 grade point average, UC earned a 2.09 GPA.

Each university was graded in eleven categories, including condom and contraception availability, student health center hours of operation, newspaper columns and HIV testing.

At Slip-N-Slide for Safe Sex, information was provided to students about sexually transmitted infections and safe sex practices.

Students were able to take advantage of an inflatable waterslide, view a short movie in a Trojan condoms tent about safe sex, enjoy music provided by a DJ or hang out with the Hooters girls and enjoy chicken wings. The event was geared to inform students about safe sex practices.

"There is a lot of opportunity for new knowledge," said Deanna Heiden, a third-year secondary education student.

Students could also visit the Trojan safe sex tour bus as well as activities set up adjacent to the slip-n-slide.

The Trojan tour began on March 28 and is traveling to college campuses across the nation in order to provide students with information on the status of sexual health in America.

"Sixty-five million Americans have incurable sexually transmitted infections," said Kari Kuka, the sexual health educator of the tour. "Data released by the Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] says that in people [ages] 14 to 19, one in four has a sexually transmitted infection."

On the Trojan bus, UC students had the opportunity to record pre-scripted shout-outs to family, friends or members of the community to wear condoms and to sign a national petition aimed at having condom ads air during prime time television. Currently, condom ads cannot be aired during prime time.

"My favorite part is the bus," Heiden said. "There is a lot of information - it's a glorious world of condoms."

Outside of the bus, students were able to participate in a condom relay race where they rushed to grab a condom from a nightstand and put it on a banana. Sexual health trivia was also available.

The Slip-N-Slide event was sponsored by Trojan brand condoms, Hooters, Meders Special-Tees, McMillan Manor, Planned Parenthood, the UC Wellness Center and The Holy Grail.

The initial event was held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and an after party was hosted at the Holy Grail from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The $224 raised at the after party is slated to be used to promote research for Lou Gehrig's disease and the James Hampton Scholarship Fund at the University of Toledo.