University, Obama break from abstinence-only pack

A generational outcry of approximately 750,000 teen pregnancies per year should lead one to realize it is time for change. Eighty-six percent of these pregnancies are unintended and nearly 25 percent end in fetal termination, according to research from the Guttmacher Institute, a research institution which seeks to advance sexual and reproductive health.Given that six in 10 women and more than five in 10 men are sexually active by the time they reach their 18th birthday, the educational gap is falling during the very time they are still supposed to be under the wings of wiser, more experienced adults.

These adults overwhelmingly believe that abstinence should not be the sole birth control tactic preached, yet more than one in five adolescents receive abstinence-only education.

Though we, as college students, think of ourselves as educated about our choices, some of us might still have the mind-set that abstinence is the only form of birth control. But, thanks to the UTC Women's Center and other campus organizations who give out free contraception, we are prepared for our, often impulsive, change of heart.

The majority of sex education teachers believe their students need to be taught methods of contraception as well as abstinence, but one in four are prohibited from doing so.

With all of the support directed toward educating teens about effectively using contraception, in addition to the not-so-flattering teen birth and abortion statistics, one would think our country would be focusing on getting the necessary information to teenagers. But, sadly it has not.

It is required for 86 percent of public schools that teach sex education to promote abstinence. Of those, 35 percent either forbid the discussion of contraception or talk only of its failure rate. The remaining 51 percent do teach both means of preventing pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The South, unfortunately, has over half of its districts teaching sex education, professing abstinence only. It is being made painfully obvious that though this statistically-ineffective, dangerous and wholly idiotic idea that we can sway the minds of teenagers to choose abstinence by showing them pictures of diseased genitalia and forcing them to wear empathy bellies is not working!

It is a shame that such a small majority of people carry such a loud voice in this effort to protect our youth, and we are settling to stay stagnant, listening to the battle cry from both sides. If we can see a compromise that will yield better results, why are we doing nothing to implement its effectiveness and change this downward spiral of the American family? We should at least pay attention to where the people we vote for stand on these issues.

Federal law requires the sex education programs they fund to teach teens any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong. The law also advocates abstinence as the only form of birth control and any discussion of other contraception is forbidden, with the exception of contraceptive failure rates.

Though no evidence supports delayed teen sexual activity following abstinence-only education, research does show abstinence-only strategies deterring teens from using contraception. So, instead of suffering through the awkwardness of asking their parents for contraception, teens will simply refrain from practicing safe sex.

Change, the token phrase of our new president, has begun, and undoubtedly it will be carried out on this critical issue. However, until then, we can take our free blue and gold condoms and be thankful for our liberal education.