The Badger Herald

NEWS

Group to raise safe sex awareness

JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Ken Harris:

No morality in voting, author says (February 26, 2008)
ASM still pursuing new grocery store (February 26, 2008)
Scientist to lead new Institute department (February 26, 2008)
UW brings new lawyer onto administrative team (February 25, 2008)
Badger ticket prices will not increase, board decides (February 25, 2008)

by Ken Harris

Monday, February 11, 2008

Safe sex is taking center stage on campus as National Condom Week events are set to prepare students for Valentine’s Day romance.

Sex Out Loud, a student organization devoted to improving sexual health awareness through education, is hosting a series of events to celebrate the weeklong event running from Feb. 14-21. The theme of this year’s celebration: is “Put this on when you get off.”

Paula Tran, Sex Out Loud events coordinator, said the national event is designed to help people engage in healthier relationships.

“We’re trying to compete with the media image of a hypersexual culture,” Tran said. “We’re making people aware of the things they can do to avoid unhealthy relationships.”

Thursday night, starting at 10 p.m., Sex Out Loud will partner with Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, to conduct a “Condom Crawl.” The groups will travel from bar to bar spreading their message of safe and consensual sex.

PAVE chair Tiffany Trzebiatowski said the group will be handing out condoms with messages like “Asking is the first thing you do with your mouth,” and will also be handing out informational cards and grab bags filled with a condom, a sucker and a bottle-opener key chain.

Trzebiatowski said it is very important to promote consensual sex in Madison’s drinking culture, because “alcohol does impair your ability to give consent.”

Sex Out Loud will be hosting a number of other events for the week. There will be a birth control forum Wednesday in the Memorial Union at 8 p.m. The forum will include a discussion of birth control methods and a question-and-answer session.

Thursday will feature a Pleasure/Relationship Program at 8 p.m. According to Tran, Sex Out Loud’s Pleasure Program is very popular on campus. She added it emphasizes the importance of knowing what your body wants and needs, and also knowing your boundaries.

Friday and Saturday, the group will be hosting the Vagina Monologues at the Barrymore Theatre at 8 p.m.

Sex Out Loud is currently holding a “Sexual Health Theme Contest.” Students can submit their theme ideas for April’s Sexual Health Week. The grand prize is a Eurail Global pass and second place receives a $100 certificate to Underground Textbook Exchange.

However, Sex Out Loud is not the only group gearing up for the year’s most romantic day, however. Calzone restaurant Lovshack, 555 on State Street., is offering the “Get Laid Special” for the entire month.

Customers who purchase two calzones get to choose between a free rose or a free a free condom.

According to UW freshman Kendra Haight, who works at Lovshack, the deal has been very popular since its inception.

“Females have tended to pick the rose more than the men,” Haight said. “If you want to get laid, the rose is the better way to go, but if you already know you’re going to get laid, you should get the condom.”

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 10:23am):

Sex Out Loud "trying to compete with the media image of a hypersexual culture?" Isn't that a little like if ROTC said it was "trying to compete with the media image of a militaristic culture?"

Not that I, unlike many on this campus, have anything against ROTC.

Add a comment

We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.