During the week of September 17 through September 21, students across campus participated in a Sexual Health Awareness event. Haley Cash, third floor resident assistant of Stoddard, decided to host an event in order to educate other students about sexual health, particularly sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. As part of Student Life, RAs have to host an event that is somehow health related and educational; Cash chose sexual health and STIs because she wants students to be aware of how fast they can spread. Also, because it’s college, things happen. So, what did you do last night?
Students who signed up for the event were given “an identity” of most common STIs that are in the Carlinville area, according to Maple Street Clinic. With notes and clues left in their mailboxes daily, students had to guess what STI they could have contracted. The Monday of September 24, participants met in Stoddard Parlor to chat with others to determine what they could have been or what they are. The idea was inspired by a similar game found on a RA website. Cash saw what the website had to offer with some inspiration and thought that it would be perfect to do for Blackburn. She came up with additional rules and guidelines, the amount of STIs, and how she plans to execute the main message. Cash had to come up with a clever way for the event to be fun somehow. So, she made it half a social event and the other half a guessing game. So how does this work? “Anybody who signs up will get a “fake identity.” Throughout the week of September 17 – 21, they will get hints in their mailbox that explains what they did the night before. Some of the identities will already have an STD before-hand.” Cash’s main message that she wants the participants to take away is how fast these things spread. Cash was also wanting to get another list, in addition to the Maple Street Clinic information, about what STIs are common in the Carlinville area.
When the event took place on the 24, students gathered in Stoddard parlor to discuss what they did the night before. Among the many STIs, the two most common ones that are in the Carlinville area were included – Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. With the clues given to them the week before, the students communicate amongst each other to figure out what they did the night before. Some were shocked, others had suspicions about what identity they took on. As the event concluded, many of the students walked away knowing that STIs spread faster than what anybody anticipates. So, the main takeaway is, if you’re going to do it, do it safely.