Hey there! So instead of our regular witty and exciting sexual health blogs, BCSSH thought you’d all like to get to know the people behind the blogs and the organization. But don’t worry, once we’ve introduced ourselves we’ll get right back down to giving you the ins and outs of sexual health.
Don Orr, Director of Direct Action:
Hello people on the Internet! My name is Don Orr, I’m a sophomore – class of 2014, and I’m a double major in History and Philosophy. I greatly look forward to my career as a Starbucks employee; I may even get an internship at the new one they’re opening at Cleveland Circle. I was born and raised in Oceanside, California, which is just north of San Diego. Aside from being BCSSH’s Director of Direct Action, I’m also a member of My Mother’s Fleabag and Boston College’s Radio Station, WZBC. In my free time, I like to read and watch entire television series on Netflix while eating full sleeves of Oreos, because as you can tell, I’m really cool. I go out on weekends sometimes but here’s a fun fact: I’ve only been to the Mods once because a friend invited me to his party, but I ended up going to the wrong Mod and didn’t realize until the next day. Brevity aside, I got involved in BCSSH because I’m a pretty politically involved person and just don’t like to see people suffer. Bluntly put, an STI or an unplanned pregnancy is one of the worst things that can happen to someone, especially in our generation. I feel like BCSSH’s approach is the most practical, logical and ethical way to curb these problems. I like helping people, and that’s what BCSSH does: it helps people without condemning or condoning.
Andie James, General Board Member:
I am from Sharon, Massachusetts. I am a sophomore with a major in Psychology and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I am currently on the editorial committee of Voices, the academic journal of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, and I am a TA for Introduction to Feminisms this semester. I love reading, eating Thai food, and sleeping. I joined BCSSH because I am really passionate about reproductive rights, sexual health, and giving people the knowledge they need to make healthy choices and live happy and fulfilled lives.
Erika Bjerklie, Director of Communications:
Hello! I am a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences as an English major with a Linguistics minor. I am from the town of Montclair, NJ where people such as Buzz Aldrin, Stephen Colbert, and several members of the Russian mafia have all resided. In addition to being the Director of Communications for BCSSH, I am also the Promotions Director for WZBC, complete with my own radio show, and I have recently become a tour guide for the SAP. When I’m not handing out condoms on CoRo, I enjoy taking film photos with my junky toy camera and laying in bed watching Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock. And, (unfortunately for my wallet), online shopping plays a big role in my life, too. I got involved with BCSSH not only because it was hard to ignore the giant BCSSH logo plastered on floormate Jessika Parry’s door, but also because I believe in a realistic approach to sex education. To me, having resources and options on a college campus just makes sense.
Amanda Eve-Beiner, Director of Publications:
I’m a sophomore from New York, majoring in English and Photography and minoring in Ancient Civilization. In addition to BCSSH, I volunteer with the Jemez Service Immersion Program and 4Boston, and I work in O’Neill. For fun, I like taking photos, running, and exploring Boston. I got involved with BCSSH because I think that sexual health information and resources are a vital part of on’es overall health that should be available to students at Boston College. It’s been a great experience to work with other students and faculty who recognize the importance of a topic that is often swept under the rug at BC. During my time with BCSSH, I hope to continue to spread awareness and promote dialogue about the value of a healthy sexual lifestyle in college.
Marion Halftermeyer, Director of Resources:
Hey everyone! I’m an Economics and Communications double major, hoping to get into the journalism industry. I’m a junior and am dreading becoming a senior since I love BC way too much! I’m originally from France, so French by nationality, but currently live in Switzerland. It’s kind of a complicated story, haha! Since I’m an international student, BC has now become my home. Other than BC Students for Sexual Health, I’m a part of BC’s Club Synchronized Figure Skating Team. I also write for HerCampus BC and am a copy editor for The Gavel. Because I’ve moved many times throughout my childhood and have had the chance to experience different cultures, I have become an avid traveler. I love visiting new towns, cities, and countries. I’m even fond of museums. On one of my trips to Egypt I had the opportunity to try a new sport: scuba diving. I now have a license to dive and do so whenever I can. As you can see, I’m a pretty active person, and that’s just one of the reasons why I joined BCSSH. I think sex, sexuality and sexual health (and everything related) are important components of our lives, especially in college, where many students begin to explore. Because I attach a lot of importance to this part of life, I am disappointed with the school’s lack of resources in this subject matter and, by being in BCSSH, feel that I am doing my part to encourage a safer sexual environment.
Chelsea Lennox, General Board Member:
Chelsea Lennox (preferably in large, pink sparkly letters) is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences with a Psychology B.A. major with a pre-medicine concentration. She hails from a small, rural-ish town in upstate New York called South Glens Falls, right outside of Saratoga. She is co-director of a group that presents the Boston College Dance Marathon and is a regular at the Music Guild’s Open Mic Nights in the Chocolate Bar. You can find her working at White Mountain Creamery, in the Plex, or generally running around like a chicken with her head cut off while she’s not in class or burying herself in work. Coming from a high school in which there was little to no sexual health education, and more than enough need for it, she felt that she could do some good and educate others by being a part of the lovely BCSSH.
Jessika Parry, Chair:
Hi! I’m a sophomore at BC studying Communications with a minor in Chemistry. I’m also on the pre-med track – orgo is killing me slowly. I’m from Maumee, Ohio, which is a really small town by Toledo. At home, I have two little sisters, three dogs, two birds, a bunny, and a newt. Besides BCSSH, I’m also very involved in Sub Turri yearbook as the junior editor-in-chief and the BC branch of American Red Cross as an outreach coordinator. Additionally, I tutor chemistry and am a Big Sister in the BC Big Sister-Little Sister mentoring program. Outside of these activities, I LOVE to read, especially Chuck Palahniuk novels. I recently became addicted to Vampire Diaries so that also sucks up (haha pun) a lot of my free time. I joined BCSSH last year as a freshman because I wasn’t aware of BC’s lacking sexual health resources until I arrived on campus. After overhearing numerous stories on the bus of students rushing to CVS to get Plan B because they had an “unexpected” random hookup, I reached out and joined. I have always had a passion for helping others educate themselves about their sexual health, and BCSSH was a perfect way for me to express that. In my future years here, I hope BC will begin to understand the changing needs of its student body and rise to the occasion by providing basic sexual health resources.
Peace, love, and lube,
BC Students for Sexual Health