Campus offers STD education

The rate of sexually transmitted diseases is not rising at JMU, but the amount of awareness and testing is, according to Ann Simmons, coordinator of Health Promotion.

"The numbers were always there, but the increase in testing just makes people more aware of it and increases the hype," Simmons said.

Students are more comfortable with the topic of sex and sexual health than in years past, making the process of spreading awareness easier. But with the increased comfort level, there also is a decrease in caution.

"[Sex] is everywhere; you can see it on daytime and nighttime television," Simmons said. "There are no more relationships over time; it’s casual sex over a few hours." The effects of alcohol and an increase of freedom at college make students more susceptible to poor judgment, according to Simmons.

Nearly two-thirds of all persons harboring STDs are 25 or younger, according to www.ashastd.org.

Students also often think they are more knowledgeable of sexual health when most of what they know is myth.

"So much is word of mouth and misinformation," said Kristin Gardner, coordinator of Peer Education.
Through the University Health Center, students are offered free HIV testing and low-cost confidential STD testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. One thousand students go through "Choices" yearly. The program is an informational meeting on birth control available and how to access it at JMU.

REACH peers (Reality Educators Advocating Campus Health) are students who go through a health education certification course, such as Health 380. They work with the Health Center and Health Promotions to inform and educate male and female students on health issues.

"The fact that a health promotions program is even in existence makes a statement," Simmons said. "Most universities only have one person working in health promotions, and we have 30 REACH peers."