Sexual health education campaign provides free testing
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde
Feb. 14, 2014 1:17 a.m.
The original version of this article contained information that was unclear and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
Student Health Advisory Committee members plan to pass out hundreds of safe sex kits and condoms in the shape of roses in Bruin Plaza Friday as part of a campaign to educate students about sexual health.
The committee will be tabling with the Black Latino AIDS Project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.
The safe sex kit will include condoms, lubricant, information about sexual health and other items to promote safe sex. The event is part of the Student Health Advisory Committee’s month-long campaign to encourage students to get tested for sexually transmitted infections.
The campaign costsabout $20,000 andis funded by the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center, the LGBT Campus Resource Center, the Graduate Student Resource Center and the Healthy Campus Initiative. Of the total amount, the committee allocated $15,000 to testing at the Ashe Center and $5,000 to advertising for the campaign and buying the safe sex kits.
As part of the campaign, the Ashe Center is providing free and confidential testing for sexually transmitted infections for registered students with or without UC SHIP. Students can get tested at the Ashe Center for the rest of the month.
“We didn’t want any financial barrier for students who want to get tested,” said Alon Kashanian, a fourth-year neuroscience student and chairman of the Student Health Advisory Committee. “That is unacceptable; everyone should have the means to (get tested).”
Members of the Student Health Advisory Committee said they wanted to provide anonymous testing because they were also concerned that confidentiality issues would discourage students from getting tested. Typically, when students get tested at the Ashe Center, the price of the test is recorded on their BruinBills.
Kashanian added that the committee hopes students will become more educated about their general health through the free and anonymous testing.
Michael Goldstein, associate vice provost of the Healthy Campus Initiative, said that the initiative’s members supported the campaign once the Student Health Advisory Committee proposed it to them.
“We try to fund things that students are involved with and that students think are a priority,” Goldstein said.
Goldstein said he thinks sexually transmitted diseases are a problem, but they are controllable. The key is for people to know their status and be tested, he added.
“Anything the campus can do to get people tested is going to be good for individuals … but (it is) also good in a broader way. Theres a lot of ignorance about testing,” Goldstein said.
Kashanian said the Student Health Advisory Committee plans to organize more projects similar to this campaign to provide direct services to students.
Clarification: When students get tested at the Ashe Center, the price of the test is usually recorded on their BruinBills, members of the Student Health Advisory Committee said.
