PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA O'NEAL According to the 2002 Health and Wellness Survey conducted by Campus Health last spring, more than 70 percent of UA students have had sex.

Ashley met Brian at a party one night at the beginning of the semester. They spent the night dancing, drinking and "getting to know each other."

The next morning, they both awoke in Brian's bed. In silence, they both put on their clothes, trying to remember the name of the person next to them.

And then they went their separate ways.

Although it's a fictional plot, for some UA students this scenario is close to reality.

According to the 2002 Health and Wellness Survey conducted by Campus Health last spring, more than 70 percent of UA students have had sex.

Although the specific number of students who have been involved in a one-night stand was not determined, Lee Ann Hamilton, a health educator at Campus Health, said she receives plenty of questions about them for her weekly column "Sex Talk."

"Most of them say ÎGosh, I wasn't planning on this ÷ it just happened,'" Hamilton said.

She added that most often students allow a one-night stand to occur because they believe that they are the "last virgin."

"Some students think, ÎAm I the last virgin on campus?'" she said.

According to the Health and Wellness survey, 45 percent of freshmen are virgins, while only 16 percent of seniors have not had sex.

"I wouldn't do something like that with someone so meaningless," said Hallie Brick, a psychology freshman.

"I think that if the two people involved realize what's going on, it's OK," said Ned Kirkpatrick, a biomedical engineering graduate student.

Men and women often perceive one-night stands differently, according to Jeff Greenberg, a psychology professor.

According to the evolutionary psychology argument, males today are the descendants of males who procreated most.

"For males, the strategy of casual sex, let's say 1 million years ago, could have been successful," he said. "Tendencies toward promiscuous sex are probably somewhat prevalent in males because promiscuous males were successful in creating offspring."

Greenberg also said that the evolutionary argument says that women find casual sex and one-night stands less appealing because "females make a much greater investment" when they have intercourse.

A man can use a "hit-and-run sort of strategy" and impregnate a lot of women, whereas women can only conceive a child once every nine months, Greenberg said. Therefore, females are generally more careful and more selective when choosing a sex partner.

However, there are exceptions to every rule, Greenberg said.

"It's not all in the genes. Genes do not have total power over us," he said.

For example, he said that it is possible to find girls who are comfortable with casual sex, and guys who would never have a one-night stand.

"It's not all or nothing," Greenberg said. He added that one might still be able, however, to predict that "males can engage in casual sex with fewer emotional consequences."

Emotional consequences are not the only side effects of a one-night stand, however. One-night stands can also bring about serious physical ramifications.

"There is a personal danger involved," Hamilton said. "When you don't know someone, when you haven't talked to them, you are at a higher risk for sexual assault."

There is also the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

According to the American Social Health Association, 20 percent of Americans have an STD, and two-thirds of all STDs occur in people under 25.

"There's definite risks involved, but if it's just two people having fun, that's fine by me," Kirkpatrick said.

Campus Health provides forms of contraceptives, as well as tests for STDs. Women may go to the center within 72 hours of sexual intercourse for an emergency contraceptive.

"Although it's only 75 percent effective, that's better than nothing," Hamilton said.

However, she added that the best way to prevent needing Campus Health's services is to abstain from sex. And if you are going to have sex, use protection and control your drinking.