Sex and the College City

This weekend, my friend decided to go home with a notorious womanizer, a guy who has a sexual reputation equivalent to Pamela Anderson's. I was surprised to see her go and even tried to persuade her to avoid being another notch on his bedpost, but it was of no use. As I watched her walk away, I wondered just how many women this guy had slept with, and then I began to worry. It wasn't her feelings I was concerned with; it was her health. \nGenerally, people consider the college years a time to be sexually deviant. The combination of no parents and wild hormones leads students to believe that random hook-ups and shacking at the college level are harmless, justifiable and unavoidable. But statistically speaking, maybe you should think again.\nOne in five people in the United States has an STD, and two-thirds of these occur in people younger than 25, according to the American Social Health Association. The Office of National AIDS Policy claims that two young people in the United States will contract HIV every hour. CDC surveillance states that among all age groups, rates of unintended pregnancy among persons age 15-24 are the highest. Scared yet?\nIf these statistics aren't enough, think about this: 1 in 5 Americans has an STD, but nearly 80 percent are unaware of it. Furthermore, at least 25 percent of Americans will contract an STD at some point in time. Could this be you? Do you know the sexual health status of your partner? Do you know your sexual health status?\nPart of the problem is the feeling of invincibility that many college students have. The "it won't happen to me" philosophy is like playing Russian roulette: Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. Is a moment of pleasure worth an STD or an unwanted pregnancy?\nAfter hearing several horror stories, it hits close to home. A friend from high school contracted an STD after a one-night stand. After unprotected sex, another friend took the morning after pill but ended up pregnant anyway. I know several girls who have had abortions. It seems like we all know someone who fell prey to sexual irresponsibility, but I'm not sure we're learning anything from these mistakes.\nSince I live with 88 girls, I hear about sex all the time. From shacking with ex-boyfriends to sleeping with a guy without remembering his name, I hear all kinds of stories. But no one ever mentions anything about protection, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. I guess it's an understanding that everyone is being safe, but I'm not so sure.\nI'm not trying to advocate abstinence or waiting until you're married; it's a personal choice, and it's not as easy as it sounds. After all, sex is not required to contract STDs or HIV. But what I would like to see is people being more careful about their choices and more concerned about who they are sleeping with. After all, you might be sleeping with the love of your life, but you may also be sleeping with an STD.\nThe next time you think about a random hook-up or a one-night stand, think about the facts and think about the risks. After all, you could be another statistic. So be careful Bloomington, you may not know who you are sleeping with.