By Erica Naugle and Samantha Mathewson
Dr. Joni Frater and Esther Lastique visited the University of New Haven campus to talk about their goal as sex educators; “to raise the bar about erotic enlightenment.”
Their event, Sex ED Boot Camp, hosted by SCOPE was held in the Alumni Lounge, Thursday, Nov. 14. They opened the event to students with a rundown of facts about sexual activity of college students and STI percentages, and how communication between partners is key, while emphasizing that individual appreciation is necessary first before getting involved with someone else in an intimate relationship.
“Friends don’t let friends hook up under the influence.” Frater and Lastique discussed that students are incapable of making the decision to engage in an intimate relationship while they are intoxicated and defined sexual assault: “Absence of a sober yes.”
Freshmen that joined the UNH campus this year had to take an Alcohol EDU online course, informing them about substance use and assault; consenting to intercourse while you are under the influence won’t hold up in court as a reasonable decision and will instead be deemed rape.
They followed with a discussion of Sexually Transmitted Infections. 20-69 percent of students deny that they have a STI, in order to attract partners for an intimate relationship, and 75 percent of people get a STI in their lifetime, and 50 percent of students get a STI while they are in college.
Frater and Lastique added to their statistics that skin-to-skin contact can transmit these infections and alternative personal hygiene methods could reduce the increased spread of such infection.
“There are six million new cases of HPV in the U.S. each year. 74 percent of them are 15-24 years old.” As another source of protection, Frater and Lastique suggested the Gardasil Vaccine, explaining that it is a series of three shots that can help reduce the risk of HPV.
“Your Body = Your Choice.” Frater and Lastique ultimately discussed the facts that should go into how students should make the many decisions about starting an intimate relationship based on their own personal needs, and along with the facts they presented, there is a series of questions one should ask themselves before jumping to the conclusion they are ready and willing— students should know what they are comfortable with, and talk about it with their partner while their clothes are still on.
