As you enter into your first-year at the University of Guelph, you are inherently given a large amount of freedom. For many students, having the ability to choose what to eat for dinner, when to do laundry, or even when to go to class can be dizzying. Undoubtedly you will be faced with many choices, and the choices you make will ultimately shape who you are and who you will become. Among these newfound freedoms and decisions, one of the most important choices you can make is to practice safe sex.
In an interview with The Ontarion, Josie Gaupholm, a senior peer wellness educator, spoke about the need to educate students and raise awareness for healthy sexual practices.
“We first want to make it clear there is no such thing as safe sex, but there is such a thing as safer sex,” said Gaupholm. “Safer sex is determined by assessing the level of risk associated with a certain sexual activity. When we talk about safer sex we are generally talking about reducing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)/HIV transmission and not necessarily preventing unwanted pregnancy. There are many contraceptive options available to students to prevent unwanted pregnancies, many of which are available on campus and covered by student’s health benefits plan.”
The University of Guelph has numerous resources dedicated to the well-being of its students, and when it comes to sexual health, there is no shortage of accessible information. The Wellness Education Centre, located on the second floor of the J.T. Powell building, provides students with a safe space to learn about sexual health.
“Wellness is a great starting point for students seeking information. Trained Peer Wellness Educators can assist students find out what all of their options are and guide them to the services that can provide specific resources,” said Gaupholm. “In the centre we provide free condoms and lube, downstairs at the clinic students can access birth control, emergency contraceptive pills (Plan B or the “morning after pill”), pap tests and confidential STI and HIV/AIDS testing all covered by your student’s health benefits. Here at the centre we can also provide resources for how to communicate with partners about what you want, sexual history and sexual health.”
Communication is a crucial component of practicing safer sex, and with the barrage of new information and experiences that come along for those entering their first year at university, being aware of the need to communicate openly is essential.
“Students coming to university are often looking to try new things and are getting used to a new sense freedom. This new independence often leads to experimenting with sex,” concluded Gaupholm. “For some it will be the first time and with that inexperience comes a lack of knowledge about what is right for them or how to indicate what they want. Students might be unaware of what resources and support is available to them on campus. By creating an open dialogue with students about sexual health and safer sex, it can make accessing these resources more comfortable for them.”
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.