Students report safer sex practices in college

Students report safer sex practices in college

Survey shows fear of AIDS, STDs has curbed casual sex

By Allyssa Lee

As a result of growing concerns about sexually transmitted
diseases and fear of AIDS, more students say they’re trading casual
sex for caution.

And studies show that the campus community is not alone.

The National Health and Social Life Survey, conducted as a
response to the growing AIDS crisis, reported that the United
States population engaged in very diverse sexual practices. But on
the whole, survey results showed that people were much less
sexually active than previously believed, according to "Sex in
America: A Definitive Survey." The survey reported 30 percent of
the national population has changed their sexual behavior due to
the advent of AIDS.

Attitudes among UCLA students matched the nation’s concerns,
Student Health Services officials said.

"My sense is that people are being more careful, that they’re
using more condoms than 10 years ago," said Ann Downie, nurse
manager of the women’s health clinic at Student Health Services.
"There’s more responsible behavior, perhaps with students in more
long term monogamous relationships."

Student Health Officials said they have seen a push to have safe
sex since the advent of AIDS.

"I think college students are more careful than they used to
be," said Darlene Mininni, a sex education coordinator student
health services. "I think that if the sexuality involves a
situation that involves a one time experience, then they’re more
careful, like if somebody is at Acapulco’s, has a couple beers and
sees someone across the bar ­ then they’re more careful."

Students said they also see a decline in the amount of
promiscuity on campus.

"Most of my friends tend to date less," said Ted Lam, a
fourth-year civil engineering student. "They tend to stick to the
same boyfriend/girlfriend, and they don’t seem to go out to clubs
anymore. It’s more careful, I guess, than high school … people
are more patient.

"It seems like they want to get to know the opposite sex more
(before they date them)," Lam added.

Pressures to have safe sex are increasing as more students in
the dorms appear to belong in monogamous relationships, according
to Todd Sargent, residential assistant at Sproul Hall,

"There’s a feeling that you have to be safe," Sargent said. "If
there’s any peer pressure to have sex at all, it’s to have safe
sex. And I’m seeing a lot of committed, long term relationships.
Casual sex is very rare."

Mininni added, however that students are more likely not to take
precautions if they are involved in a long-term relationship.

"If it involves something more emotionally serious, like if
somebody meets somebody and likes them really well, they date and
have sex, then oftentimes they don’t (use a condom)," Mininni
said.

But according to Dr. Shane Que Hee, an associate professor and
staff member of the Lesbian and Gay Faculty/Staff Network, more
caution may abound as a result of AIDS, but in general, sexual
attitudes have not changed.

"Most people don’t change their attitudes," Que Hee said.
"Definitely people are more discriminating, but there is the same
amount of sexual activity, but maybe more with fewer people. "You
may compensate your sexual activity by having more sexual activity
with less people."

Still some students continue to ignore the threat of sexually
transmitted diseases and AIDS, students said.

"I think a lot of people ignore it," said Jill Dever, a
first-year microbiology student. "They think they’re not at risk. I
know I’m monogamous, but I know a lot of people that aren’t. It’s
the whole idea that ‘it can’t happen to me’ you know ­
stupidity."

"I don’t think (sexual attitudes) have changed (since high
school)," Dever added. "It’s the whole ‘you’re not supposed to do
it, but everyone does it’ attitude. But I guess in college I find
that people are more safe."