By
Katie Clark
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Mr. Condom dances to promote birth control
A special guest appearance by Mr. Condom, a giant, dancing contraceptive, helped UA Campus Health Services remind students about their options with Sexual Responsibility Week 2001 yesterday.
Representatives from Planned Parenthood, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, Arizona's Children's Association, UA's OASIS Center for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence and Catholic Community Services stationed themselves on the UA Mall to educate students about what it means to be sexually responsible while passing out free candy and condoms.
"We want to remind people that if you're going to have sex, there are things you can do to make things safer," said Lee Ann Hamilton, health educator with the University of Arizona Campus Health Services, which sponsored the event.
Hamilton said a survey conducted by Campus Health revealed that one in four students are virgins and of the 73 percent who said they were sexually active, most said it was with one person.
"There are still students who are putting themselves at risk, though," Hamilton said. "Many people don't know enough about sexual health."
Kathie Cummings, volunteer coordinator for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, said reminding people about sexual responsibility is very important, especially with a rise in the number of HIV cases in people between the ages of 10 and 24.
"People are not thinking about HIV anymore," said Cummings. "We've got to get the message back out."
Catholic Social Services and Arizona's Children's Association also gave students information about pregnancy and adoption.
"Adoption can be an option for women who are in a bad situation," said Lexann Downey-Lewis, an adoption social worker for Catholic Social Service. "We want people to know that here is hope."
"It's confidential and (not a decision) we would pressure (people) into making," added Diane Radtke, an adoption social worker with Arizona's Children Association.
Both organizations offer counseling on adoption and pregnancy options, regardless of faith or race.
Today's events include free, anonymous HIV testing provided by the Pima County Health Department on the second floor of Old Main.
"Reducing the risk, that is what we are trying to encourage," said Hamilton.
For more information contact these organizations:
Campus Health Services
(520) 621-4967
www.health.arizona.edu
Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation
(520) 628-SAAF (7223)
www.saaf.org
Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona Facts of Life Line
Recorded Messages about sexuality and personal health
(800) 548-3070
www.ppaz.org
Arizona's Children Association
(520) 622-7611
www.arizonaschildren.org
Catholic Social Service (Southern Arizona)
(520) 623-0344
OASIS Center for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence
(520) 626-2051
w3.arizona.edu/~oasis/home.htm
