On Tuesday, April 5th the staff for Science Week, the “Consejo General de Estudiantes” (CGE), Prevén Clinic, and student associations like SpectRUM, and the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) UPRM gathered in the “Placita de Chardón” to host a carnival. This carnival was like nothing the UPRM had ever seen before, because it focused on orienting students about safe sex. Now, you’re probably thinking that’s all fine and dandy, but why is it such a big deal? Well for one thing, the UPRM has a high rate of infection due to Chlamydia among its students, and there has been a significant increase in the reported cases of HPV and HIV.
Let that sink in.
This means more and more students are having unprotected sex and participating in risk behavior that can put them in danger of contracting STI’s (sexually transmitted infections). There has been a trend reported that confirms that many college students are choosing to forgive any kind of protection for a myriad of reasons.
This news shocked the CGE and prompted them to create this event, aptly called Le Plaisir de Savoir (The Pleasure of Knowledge or El Placer del Saber). This activity was meant to teach students ways to protect themselves during sex, and how to proceed after participating in risk behavior. Students were encouraged to participate in the activity in order to gain the information needed to help them lead healthier and more responsible lives.
College associations banded together to bring this important message across to students, faculty members, and everyone present. Organizations like SpectRUM, who focuses on bringing support to the LGBTQI+ community, knew just how important this activity would be. SpectRUM’s President, Frances Cordova, said that “teaching students ways to decrease the risk of infection and where they can get tested afterwards” was a big concern. Cordova also mentioned that “these problems affect the LGBTQI+ community in great measure” and that this was also a motivating factor in their involvement.
The carnival set out to teach students about how to have safe sex and keep sexually transmitted infection contagion to a minimum, and it certainly managed to achieve this goal. From condoms, to dental dams, and where to get tested, Le Plaicir de Savoir had all your bases covered.