http://www.chicagoflame.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=185931

Chicago Flame - News
Issue: 2/19/02

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Let's talk about sex
By Jemimah Noonoo

Last week entailed more than the usual hoopla that inevitably leads to Valentine's Day. It also was National Sexual Responsibility Week.

To participate in this event, the University of Illinois at Chicago's Wellness Center set up tables Thursday near the Pier Room in Chicago Circle Center. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, students could participate in "Hospital Hugs," buy "condom pops," or pick up informational brochures about sexual responsibility.

During the "Hospital Hugs," event, students created homemade valentine cards for children at the UIC hospital. No planning was necessary.

"I just walked up," said Brian Crissie, a senior majoring in psychology. "I thought it would be a nice thing to do."

Freshman Jessica Ruiz also stopped to make a card.

"I think it's a great cause," Ruiz said. "We don't have time to go out there, but we're doing this -- we're doing something."

"Sometimes we don't see that the simplest things we do might mean a lot to someone," said Mireya Diaz, a junior majoring in finance.

Condom pops -- packaged condoms with a stick taped to the outside to make them resemble lollipops -- sold for a $1 apiece and proved a curious attraction.

Alex Frangou, a freshman majoring in management, bought 15 of them.

"It's my birthday and I want to give all my friends something," Frangou said. "I thought this would be a funny gift."

He's not the only one who uses a light-hearted attitude when approaching the often sobering topic of sexual responsibility.

Bindi Desai, a graduate student in public health, is a registered dietitian at the Wellness Center. Last semester, she co-coordinated the Condom Sense booth, a table set up every week at which free condoms are available.

Desai said keeping things light helps draw some apprehensive students.

"Sometimes people hesitate to come to the booth," Desai said. "If you ease the atmosphere, it's better."

Peer educator Leah Siwinksi, a sophomore who distributed the condom pops, agreed.

"Scaring people into safe sex does not work," Siwinski said. "When you joke about safe sex a little, they hear it more."

Siwinkski is a member of Wellness Education By Students, an on-campus organization that provides students an opportunity to educate their peers about health issues.

Students interested in becoming peer educators take a kinesiology course for one semester taught by Katye Miller, health educator for the Wellness Center. In the class, students receive training to present workshops and later perform 10 hours of health-related service work.

Peer educators are important, Siwinski said, because students are more receptive to hearing about sexual responsibility from other young people.

"A lot of times people don't want to listen to authority figures," she said. "If it's someone their own age, they listen more."

Though the sight of condom pops and homemade valentines kept the event light-hearted, the message of sexual responsibility was not lost.

"During Sexual Responsibility Week, we look at communications between partners," Miller said.

The brochures about sexual responsibility offered students information on a range of options.

"We offer info on abstinence and other forms of contraceptives," Miller said.

Patrice Dewey, a junior majoring in biology, said having knowledge of several options is key to sexual education.

"Not giving people all their options forces them to have risky behaviors," Dewey said, as she put the finishing touches on her homemade card.

Miller said she considers Thursday's event a success.

"I am very pleased with the outcome," she said. "Over 150 valentines were made and over 100 condom pops were sold."

sounds specious at best as a lawsuit, maybe they'll get a formal apology from the Cougars... maybe.  Sure reminds me of Bull Durham though.