Friday, September 21, 2007
College is the four-year “joyride” that sometimes turns out to be a little longer than expected. Movies like “Van Wilder” have immortalized the ideal university lifestyle: wild parties, crazy antics, alcohol and of course, sex.
Students are beset by the sexuality of today’s world. University health programs and various clubs can be found handing out condoms and lube on campus. Sex is in movies, advertisements and TV shows.
The pursuit of sex usually begins in high school, and in some cases even earlier. But at the college level, sex is not just common, it’s almost expected, whether it’s a one-night stand or part of a serious relationship.
People seem ashamed to acknowledge they are still virgins. One KU student asked that her name be left out of this article after admitting it.
The definition of abstinence is debatable: is abstinence simply a means to prevent pregnancy, or is it also a means to avoid obtaining sexually transmitted diseases?
pullquote
I don’t think there’s an invisible man in the sky who hates sex.
-Brett Turner, Overland Park junior
According to the Centers for Disease Control, abstinence is to abstain from vaginal, anal and oral sex. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, oral sex still puts one at risk for HIV and other STDs, and anal sex actually increases that risk.
Some people choose to wait to have sex for fear of STDs. For others, there are spiritual and religious reasons.
Brett Turner, Overland Park junior, said he thought people should just wait until they are emotionally ready for sex.
“I don’t think there’s an invisible man in the sky who hates sex,” Turner said.
Leeta Thiessen, Fayetteville, Ark., junior, said abstaining from sex was a measure of self-discipline.
“It’s easy to become addicted to things,” Thiessen said. “[Abstinence is] my way of controlling myself and doing what I want to do.”
Some students said losing virginity to the right person was important. Kylie Fernandez, Olathe junior, has been with her boyfriend for four years and has no regrets of having a sexual relationship with him.
“Not that our relationship is based on sex, but it has brought us closer,” Fernandez said. “If we didn’t have that kind of relationship and trust, we probably wouldn’t still be together.”
The decision to have sex should be a personal decision, but people need others and need to feel like they belong. In a 1985 study, Ellen Berscheid showed that most people will name the people closest to them — friends, romantic partners and family — as who makes their lives complete. A 2002 study by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman showed that college students listed close relationships as more satisfying than money. It is, however, up to the individual to determine what sort of relationships those are, platonic or romantic. So even amidst all the “Van Wilders” out there, a student’s “ideal” college lifestyle does not have to include sex.
—Edited by Chris Beattie
Who's not having it
Many students choose to remain abstinent for differing reasons.
Sexually transmitted diseases common, preventable
Safe sex practices and condoms can lower the likelihood of contracting an ...
Students decide sex can wait
Religion and finding that special someone are some of the reasons young ...
Editorial: Shared responsibility a must in sexual ...
HPV vaccine proves beneficial for both men and women.
Society screwing with sexuality
As advertising constantly bombards people with sex, religion and government laws try ...
Group to take petition on pub crawl
Commission on the Status for Women promotes sexual awareness in Kansas with ...
A little libido goes a long way
Everybody has sexual desires, but how do you handle them? Sex therapist ...
Not a typical school girl
Former sex columnist for the University Daily Kansan talks about what she ...
Bledowski: Sex talk climbs, actual sex falls
Students like to talk about sex. Having sex, not as much.
Mistreatment of women exacerbates AIDS epidemic
Letter: Abstinence-only classes haven’t slowed Plan B
Delta Force focuses on sexual health, sustainability
The group will be putting all their effort into informing students about ...
Sex Spoofs
Essential life skills: Condoms
In case of emergency, read quickly.
Pre-game sex: a do or a don’t?
Contrary to popular belief, sex before games may not affect athletic performance.
Free: Good sex education teaches more than ...
Quality sex education needs to be comprehensive.
Sexually (inter)Active: What is the purpose of ...
Three panelists weigh in on how "roles" continue to define relationships.
Bledowski: Friends with benefits may work with ...
FWB's are complicated but can work when roles are defined.
Center promotes sex and alcohol safety
Event held to educate students on how to increase personal safety while ...
Posting the “first time” online
A new Web site allows women to share stories of how they ...
Kansas in Heat: Communication is key
Relationship researcher Mike Anderson tackles the sticky world of relationship advice.
ECM to offer human sexuality course this ...
Starting Thursday, students can gather weekly to discuss the everyday role of ...
Sexual health Q&A
Patty Quinlan answers questions about maintaining a healthy sex life
Letter to the Editor: Sex is sacred
So what does abstinence in a committed relationship look like? For my ...
Kansas in heat: Braving new grounds
Tackle the sticky world of relationships.
Hot myths debunked
We strip common sex myths bare.
Free HIV testing promotes AIDS awareness
Campus organizations held the event Tuesday for World AIDS Day.
Love and lust in college
From one-night stands to long-term relationships, students’ perceptions of the collegiate dating ...
Study looks at effects of one-night stands
Study suggest hook-up culture could affect self-esteem.
Five questions: Milton Wendland and Brandon Woodard
Two people. Five questions. See how they stack up.
Sexy Week encourages more than sex education
All this week Delta Force will help students understand their bodies and ...
KU calls on 'dating doctor' for relationship ...
David Coleman, a nationally known speaker on relationships, talks to students about ...
Sexual health improves at KU
The report scored 139 universities on a variety of programs and recourses ...
Sexual healing
Sex isn’t just about the finish, it can also have many long-term ...
Kansas in heat: getting fit for sex
Relationship researcher Mike Anderson tackles the sticky world of relationship advice.
Certain behaviors increase need for STD testing
Health centers follow the motto, better safe than sorry, when it comes ...
Cohen: Abstinence-only education insane
New bill is a waste of money and won't improve health of ...
Let's talk about sex, baby, and not ...
Asexuality is an often overlooked sexual orientation.
Bitch and Moan
Exposed
My boyfriend during freshman year had 100 gigabytes of pornography on his ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID