Statistics about sex can be found online with a simple Google search, but finding reliable information from a trusted source can be challenging. For Blackburn students there are on and off campus resources and reaching out for help is an important first step if you have concerns about your sex life.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 10 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 are diagnosed each year with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Over 2 million college aged women (18-24) become pregnant each year. Among all new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, four out of five occur in males.
At Blackburn, one of the most obvious resources are the baskets of condoms in the residence hall bathrooms. These can be taken anonymously and are freely provided in the hopes of encouraging safe sex. Counseling services offers both male and female condoms along with informational fliers and pamphlets.
Free condoms – just one of the available sex resources on campus
Assistant manager of peer counseling Dallas Newman discussed several ways that counseling services is working to help students navigate a safe sex life. Students can ask for condoms or information anonymously. The department is teaming up with other groups like residence life to promote subjects like STD awareness through fun games and events.
Other resources include the residence life and counseling staff who are all available to discuss concerns you might have. Students might be curious about how confidential their concerns or requests are. All residence life student staff and counseling services are mandated reporters. This means that anything that might need to be addressed on a larger scale – sexual assault for example – must be reported to supervisors. Stoddard Hall Residence Director Magin Judd said, “My way of handling anything people want more information on in an anonymous way is to leave a notepad outside my door. If anyone would like more information about something, they can easily write me to tell me what it is and slide it under my door. I would then work on making a pamphlet or handout to be slid underneath everyone’s door in order to not single anyone out.”
If a person feels uncomfortable in confiding to someone on campus or doesn’t want to request information on campus, there are other local options. The graduate student intern in the counseling department, Nicole Quarrels, mentioned that Springfield has a few places for students in need, including Planned Parenthood, the Pregnancy Crisis Center and the Phoenix Center (Springfield’s LGBTQ community center). In Carlinville, the Macoupin County Maple Street Medical Clinic offers many services. According to their website the clinic offers services regardless of insurance coverage. Services they offer include routine well woman check-ups, Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs, nutritional counseling, STI screening, prevention, education and treatment and behavioral counseling services. The website is www.mcphd.net/general_information_medical.php.