UNBSJ celebrated Sexual Education (Sex Ed) week with a lot of sexy activities available for students.
Sex Ed week kicked off on Nov. 5 with a condom buffet in front of the cafeteria in the Thomas J. Condon Student Centre. Volunteers from the Sexual Health Centre handed out many different kinds of condoms, lubricants and even massage oils. Information on safe sex and STIs were also available.
On Nov.6, UNBSJ hosted Tony Lee, an x-rated hypnotist whose show revolves around sexual and cheeky material. He hypnotized UNBSJ students and convinced them to do things that would turn any well-adjusted person bright red.
On Nov. 7, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) hosted the university’s third Sex Toy Bingo. The game is played like regular bingo with sex toys as prizes, condoms all over the tables and “dildo!”, “penis!” or any other sexual word takes the place of the traditional “bingo!” Laura Gordon, the coordinator of the UNBSJ Sexual Health Centre ordered $800 worth of sex toys from an online retailer for prizes. Prizes included a large assortment of dildos and vibrators, “Clone-a-Willy” kits, blow up dolls and grand prizes of a Fleshlight for the gentlemen and a Rabbit vibrator for the ladies.
Jen Brown, UNBSJ’s social director, says it’s important that students be educated about sex, “I think it is very important to have these kinds of events on campus because it opens the door for people,” she says, “A lot of people are shy, embarrassed or scared to even talk about these issues, so with these events they know that there are people out there who they can talk to if [the need arises].”
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, reported cases of certain STIs were highest among the population aged 15-24, which is why it is so important to hold events like this one campus.
Some of the most common STIs in Canada are Chlamydia, which is a bacterial infection and is the most reported in Canada, with 327 cases reported per 100,000 people, Gonorrhea, which affects 32 out of 100,000 people and Syphilis, affecting about four out of every 100,000 Canadians. All three of these infections are easily treated, but sometimes never show symptoms in otherwise healthy people.
Since 36 per cent of 18-19 year olds have reported having sex with multiple partners and only 60 to 75 per cent of the same age group reported using condoms, volunteers at the campus Sexual Health Centre are trying to promote condom use and other safe sex practices.
Although Sex Ed week was cut short (three days instead of an entire week), due to a conference for the SRC, Brown says that the events were a success. “I think the events that were put on were extremely successful and I look forward to doing them again,” she says, “I hope to potentially do more day time events for Sex [Ed] week so more students have a chance to participate.”
The SRC and the Sexual Health Centre on campus are considering holding another similar event during the winter term called “Love Your Body” week. It will focus around appreciating and caring for your body and will feature more fun events. “I would love to be involved with the ‘Love You Body’ week,” says Brown, “I think it is extremely important to have these kinds of events to help students raise their self esteem and realize that they are not the only people out there who think badly of themselves.”
