Sperm-shaped bean bags were tossed across the Spine on Wednesday in order to raise awareness about sexual health.
REACH (Real Education About College Health), an organization whose goal is to teach students about college-oriented health issues, set up stations and games along the New University Union Patio to highlight healthy sexual habits.
Jessica Maisel, an intern at REACH and a senior majoring in biology, said it is important for college students to be aware of how to approach sexual encounters safely.
“Usually when people think about sex they don’t like to talk freely and openly about it, but they do it anyway,” Maisel said. “We’re providing them with safer sex packets that give them condoms, lubricant and encourages them to use contraception.”
Located next to REACH’s electric car, Lulu, the pink pig car that drives around campus raising awareness for health-related issues, was at a booth that had several packets of health-related materials that included condoms, lubricant, hand sanitizer and tissues as well as brochures with sexual health information.
Several presentation boards covered with information about contraception and jeopardy games were located around the event. They highlighted the importance of taking precautionary measures when having sex to reduce the risk of contracting an STD.
Another featured activity was a take on the game of cornhole, in which participants tossed sperm-shaped bean bags into zygote-shaped holes.
Jay Patel, a junior majoring in biochemistry who attended the event, said it was good for people to know about sexual health-related issues and possible repercussions of not taking preventative measures.
“It’s important for people to be knowledgeable about the situation,” Patel said. “Without taking the correct approach, you can make decisions that you can regret in the near future and also decisions that can affect you for the rest of your life.”
REACH offers consultations for students who want more information about wellness or have health concerns to discuss. REACH works with residential communities to ensure sexual health knowledge is passed along to students by having literature available throughout RA offices.
Maisel said it’s always worth it to take safety measures.
“This event, to me, means broadening student involvement in protecting themselves and spreading diseases, because its really important that they know about different methods of not getting pregnant and STD’s,” Maisel said.
REACH’s next event is “Boobie Bingo,” taking place on Oct. 22, and intends to raise awareness about breast cancer.