Brooke Kelly
Managing Editor
When a problem is so common that people stop trying to do something about it, that problem becomes very dangerous. With sexually transmitted infections and diseases highest among the 15-24 year old age group, it is tempting to believe that anything you say to change statistics will fall on deaf ears. However, acknowledging a problem is one of the first ways to try and correct it.
When passing the message boards in the student center, I have been very pleased to see big, attractive posters with trendy designs aiming to grab students’ attention and inform them of STD and STI statistics.
Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to attend forums put on by Greek organizations, housing, and others on safe sex. Lastly, students who attend Bible studies put on by different organizations are encouraged to be abstinent or celibate.
However, one of the craziest things I have seen on campus is fraternities publically bragging about unsafe sex. That is not “what’s up,” and as a campus we need to create a culture of promoting safe sex.
Statistics show that STD and STI rates remain high for African-Americans in the 15-24 year old age group. In its 2009 report, the CDC did offer a little good news, in that gonorrhea is at its lowest level ever recorded, and for the first time in five years, syphilis cases did not increase in women overall. However, with 19 million new STD cases a year and over half of them from 15-24 year-olds, the problem still deserves attention.
The CDC sites behavioral, biological, and cultural reasons, such as lack of insurance or ability to pay medical expenses, lack of transportation and confidentiality concerns, for this statistic.
Whatever the reason(s) for this statistic, contracting STDs is costly, financially and emotionally. The estimated 19 million new STD cases every year, cost the U.S. healthcare system $16.4 billion annually.
Overall, STDs and STIs are more prevalent in the black community. That makes two strikes against many of us on this campus, the fact that we are in the 15-24 year old age group being the other strike.
Perhaps the most devastating statistic is the rate of HIV/AIDS cases in our community. According to theblack-collegian.com, black youth represent 65 percent of HIV/AIDS cases for American youth ages 13-19, and according to the CDC, in 2004, African-Americans accounted for one half of the estimated new HIV/AIDS diagnoses while only making up 13 percent of the population.
That all sounds so hopeless, but we can change the campus culture, if we choose to care enough.
No matter how “in the moment” some people may find themselves, if people knew just how bad having STDs and STIs can sometimes be I believe more people would take precaution. Creams and pills don’t get rid of everything, and getting educated on these facts is a must.
If we love ourselves more and love others more maybe we can care enough to lower the numbers. We need to educate our community.
While abstinence and celibacy are always the best ways to go for more reasons than one, most students are still having sex. We need a campus culture that promotes abstinence, celibacy, and safe sex. That might sound lame, but it is possible.
The various Christian and religious organizations through the religious council do a lot to address the first two, but more could be done to change students’ attitudes about safe sex. If the government, the school, and students all invested in changing the campus culture, I believe fewer cases of STDs would occur. The health center offers free condoms, but the question is how often do students get them? That isn’t a “cool” look.
In order to change STD and STI statistics, the cause has to become appealing to the masses. When we use pop culture to better the world, it has positive effects. The BET Rap-it-Up Campaign was a great example of this.
STDs and STIs haven’t gone anywhere, although our talk about them seemingly has.
If this commentary seemingly doesn’t affect you, chances are it affects someone you know. Knowing that silence can be deadly, will you speak up?
