Monday, November 3, 2014
HAYDEN PARKS/KANSAN
Trojan Brand Condoms just released their ninth annual Sexual Health Report Card, ranking the University of Kansas No. 55 on the list of 140 colleges nationwide.
ARE YOU DOING IT RIGHT?
University ranked No. 55 on the annual Trojan safe sex list
MAEGAN BULL
@maegan_bull
Trojan Brand Condoms recently released its ninth annual Sexual Health Report Card, which ranked KU's main campus No.55 out of 140 colleges on sexual health The rankings are based on 11 separate categories, including sexual health education and resources, on-site STI and HIV testing, condom availability and sexual assault programs and resources.
The University jumped nine spaces up from last year's No. 64 rank, just behind Kansas State University. Oregon State University ranked No.1, with Brigham Young University being ranked the lowest of the 140 colleges on sexual health.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur every year in this country, with 1-in-4 college students having some form of an STI.
The research data was collected
and ranked by the independent research firm, Sperling's BestPlaces. One notable finding from the study was that only 41 percent of college-aged adults report they always use a condom. Melissa Smith, of Edelman public relations, said another significant finding of the study was 64 percent of college age adults reported using a condom the last time they had sex, compared to 54 percent of those aged 23-34. Fewer college age adults have had STD scares than their older peers, and they are nearly twice as likely not to have ever been tested for an STD, according to the data.
Safe sex is promoted through various ways on campus, including the yearly sexual health demonstrations in the dorms and scholarship halls put on by Peer Health Educators. The demonstrations include information on how to effectively use condoms. Peer Health also passes out safe sex kits and discusses safe sex with students. Confidential walk-in STI testing is available on
campus at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Shannon Livengood, a senior from Clay Center and peer health education coordinator at Watkins, said she talks to
"Sex is not just supposed be a goal at the end of the night, it should be something that all parties involved with want enthusiastically and it should be something that people talk about."
JENNY MCKEE
Watkins health educator
students over the phone and in person weekly about sexual health. She said the most commonly asked question is about how to properly use condoms.
Every Friday, peer health educators hold an event called Condom Sense Friday to educate students on safe sex
by passing out safe sex kits that contain two condoms instructions for use and how to contact them if students have additional questions.
"Typically we pass out 200 condoms every Friday," Livengood said. "We also just recently added a consent sticker to each condom that says 'Ask before you unwrap.'"
Any student who has questions about sexual health can get in touch with a peer health educator through phone at (785) 864-9574 or by email at peerhlth@ku.edu.
McKee said students who are thinking about hooking up should start with a pre-sex conversation so all parties involved are on the same page.
"Sex is not just supposed be a goal at the end of the night, it should be something that all parties involved with want enthusiastically and it should be something that people talk about," said Jenny McKee, a health educator at Watkins.
- Edited by Emily Brown
SPERLING'S BESTPLACES RANKED COLLEGES ON
- Hours of operation
- Allow drop-ins or require appointments for student scheduling
- Quality of sexual health information and resources on website
- Contraceptive availability — free or at cost
- Condom availability
- STI testing on-site (On/off campus, cost)
- Lecture/outreach programs and student peer groups for sexual health education
- HIV testing on-site (On/off campus, cost)
STI testing on-site (On/off campus, cost)
- Sexual assault awareness programs, resources or services
- Overall website usability and quality
DID YOU KNOW?
- Condoms are available at Watkins Health Center
- Three condoms cost 50 cents at Watkins Health Center
- Plan B is only $25 at Watkins Health Center
- Confidential STI and HIV testing available on campus
- Peer health educators pass out safe sex kits every Friday, calling it Condom Sense Friday. The kit includes two condoms, information on correctly using a condom, and how to contact them if students have additional questions.
- Safe sex kits are also available for students in Watkins Health Center
New committee to help students switch majors
JAMES LAMB
@theJamesLamb
The University established a new committee with goals of removing some of the administrative inconveniences for students seeking admission to new majors. The Undergraduate Advising Executive Committee already held its first meeting last Wednesday with every school at the University represented. The committee is looking to make proposals to streamline
Currently, students looking to change their majors are left with relatively little administrative assistance. When Jami Kay Bessey, a senior from Paola, transferred from the School of Engineering to School of Arts to be a theater major, she said there was only little help from either of the departments.
the advising process for students entering new majors or changing their majors.
["They] just left it to me," Bessey said. "The School of the
To help students going through the process, the committee is considering re-establishing an advising network that would bring all advisers on campus to work together.
Arts adviser helped me with getting some classes to count for different requirements, but that's about it."
"Each school on campus does its own advising and each unit does advising a little bit
SEE ADVISING PAGE2
Today, tomorrow mark last chances to vote
ALLISON KITE
@Allie_Kite
Advanced voting ends today at noon, but students can still vote at the Douglas County Election Office until then.
Absentee ballots must also be received by the election office, 1100 Massachusetts St., before 7 p.m. today.
for tomorrow's general election, voters must report to their designated polling location to vote or they will be given a provisional
ballot, which will only count for certain races. Voters who do not know their designated polling location can search their name through the Douglas County voter portal.
Sam Brownback by 2.3 points.In the Senate race, challenging Independent Orman leads incumbent Republican Pat Roberts by 0.7 points.In the race for U.S. house, Incumbent Republican Lynn Jenkins leads challenging Democrat Margie Wakefield 49 percent to 37 percent.
Voters must show photo identification when they arrive at the polls, which are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Check Kansan.com tomorrow night for the initial election results.
In a race this tight every vote counts. In the race for governor, Democrat Paul Davis leads incumbent Republican
Edited by Ashley Peralta
CLASSIFIEDS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 6 SPORTS 14
CROSSWORD 6 OPINION 4 SUDOKU6
Don't Forget
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
To go to your camping shifts for the first basketball game.
Today's Weather
PM showers with a 70 percent chance of rain. Wind SW at 20 mph.
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