Sexual Healing
November 30, 2007
University administrators around the country no longer take for granted the physical and mental well-being of their undergraduates. From deranged students acting on violent fantasies to individuals succumbing to the stresses of academic life, maintaining a healthy and happy student body is no easy task. Nonetheless, the most prevalent health issue on campus, the sexual activities of undergrads, remains the most difficult to address. The Observer wishes to see sexual health take its proper place alongside physical and mental health as an integral part of the administration’s strategy to ensure the continued vitality of the student body.
A recent Observer survey demonstrates the degree of sexual activity at Tufts: 50% of freshman and 86% of seniors surveyed declared themselves sexually active. The “hook-up” culture that permeates most universities, with many couplings occurring only after a brief courtship and copious amounts of alcohol, only further increases the issues university health officials must address. Mentally, one-night stands leave both parties unsatisfied, and in some cases embarrassed, about decisions made the night before. Physically, the effectiveness of contraceptives decreases as alcohol and other substances impair motor functions, and a decline in monogamous sexual relationships means that sexually transmitted diseases have more opportunities to spread. Most importantly, a hook-up culture mixed with alcohol, the number one date-rape drug, poses greater risks of sexual assault.
Despite the dangers that arise when partaking in sexual activity, the administration must not allow the development of a mindset that demonizes sex as a risky or inappropriate exercise. As Dr. Stacey Sperling of Health Services correctly acknowledges, sex should be a fun, enjoyable experience for those who choose to seek such relations. Whether the administration would like to recognize the current state of affairs or not, Tufts is a sexually active campus. That said, even with the sexual experience of some undergraduates, most Tufts students do not have the necessary skills to talk about sex in an appropriate manner with their partner. While it is essential that students understand the risks involved and learn the rules of consent, articulating ways in which to improve an already budding sexual relationship could also have great importance. Providing avenues for students to learn aspects of maintaining a healthy sexual life, with communication between the two partners stressed, would be one way to encourage fun and safe sex. The University could also place greater emphasis on being tested for STDs: unbeknownst to most students, Health Services possesses all the necessary tools for detecting STDs, and scheduling an appointment is no difficult task. Developing an atmosphere where students feel as comfortable getting an HIV test as they do receiving a flu shot would further promote healthy sex.
By no means should any program portray sex as a necessary condition for a fulfilling college experience. Abstinence remains the most effective form of birth control and STD prevention, and students who choose this lifestyle should not feel ostracized. The underlying assumption of health policies on campus, however, should not be that most students are abstinent, because that perception does not conform with reality. Rather, encouraging those that are sexually active to respect boundaries, communicate, and be tested augments the health and safety of students on the hill by making certain both active and non-active persons understand appropriate sexual behavior.
Sexual health contributes as much to the welfare of students as its physical and mental variants. Ensuring that undergraduates have the necessary tools for engaging in safe and enjoyable sexual activity should be a top priority in promoting the general welfare of the student body. The sexual lives of students may be a private manner, but that does not mean the university should feel unable to maintain a positive sexual environment on campus.