Sex Carnival in time for week of Valentine’s Day

Written by Carla Triviño/Contributing Writer

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, students prepare for a weekend of romance – some without knowing how to put on a condom, said Isabel Capella, Student Health Services senior health educator at the Biscayne Bay Campus.

To help educate students on safe sex practice, the Wellness Center will host their annual Sex Carnival Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the Wolfe University Center Panther Square; giveaways, food and music are included.

“We don’t promote promiscuity,” said Capella, “but if you do it, be safe about it.”

According to Capella, there are students who don’t know how to protect themselves properly. This puts them at risk to human immunodeficiency virus exposure and sexually transmitted disease infections.

At the Wellness Center, students are offered flavored condoms, lubricants and dental dams, a thin square of latex that can be used for protection during oral sex. Non-latex condoms are also provided for those allergic to latex free of charge.

Each condom has its own wrapper placed above them to show the physical difference between each brand and type of condom – all of which will be available at the carnival.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, women between the ages of 18 and 24 use birth control pills or condoms more than any other contraceptive method. Image by Krono Lescano/FIUSM Staff

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, women between the ages of 18 and 24 use birth control pills or condoms more than any other contraceptive method. The center also reports that those under 20 are more likely to not use any method.

According to Capella, the Wellness Center understands that students may feel uncomfortable talking about past relationships and are dishonest about their sexual history. She said their aim is to make sex ed fun and not scary.

“We want students to not feel like sex is taboo,” said Capella, “and initiate conversation.”

According to Capella, many students don’t know about the different sizes of condoms and which ones they should use. Through different games, the Carnival will present students with the many types of risks that exist when being sexually active. They will also show how to put on both female and male condoms.

“There’s always stuff to learn about sex, but after a while it gets redundant,” said Alek Perczek, freshman biochemistry major.

However, the event will not only teach students, but also provide health advice and testing.

There will be a mobile clinic outside of Panther Square during the Sex Carnival for students to check their health status. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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