SGA sponsors STD testing, awareness

This Valentine's Day, students can be safer with free STD tests, condoms and sex education at an SGA sponsored event.SGA member Isaac Poore, junior from Kenton, Tenn. and coordinator of the event, said unfortunately this is a necessity for students.

The event will take place in the Tennessee Room of the UC Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Poore said the goal of the event is to raise awareness about the prevalence of STDs on campus, and other issues regarding sexuality and safety will be addressed as well. SGA is the sole sponsor of the event, but other organizations including Spectrum, Chattanooga Cares, the Hamilton County Health Department, and the student Women's Center will be involved, he said.

"It just seemed really important that we should do something like this anyway, and it happened to coincide with Valentine's Day," Poore said.

Poore said one of the event's largest draws is the tentatively scheduled opportunity for free STD testing. The Hamilton County Health Department will be present to test for gonorrhea and chlamydia and Chattanooga Cares will be providing rapid HIV tests, Poore said.

The event will also include refreshments and free items such as condoms, lubricants, and T-shirts.

SGA is in negotiations with the University Center over the ability of the event to take over a set of bathrooms, Poore said.

"I think it's great," Audrey Loyd, a Memphis freshman said. "I know a lot of people on campus probably want to get tested but aren't sure how or where to go. I think an event like this will bring much-needed awareness to the STD problem on campus."

Brittain Ayres, a freshman from Nashville, Tenn. said, "I think an event like this will make information and testing more accessible to students and possibly help students who are scared better able to make the decision to get tested. STD's and sexual safety are really a problem on campus and I think it's great that SGA is doing something about it."

Poore said SGA would like to remind students to be careful and take precautions when engaging in romantic activity.