The concept of sex education brings back memories of fifth-grade
giggles and ninth-grade curiosity, but university officials should
be reminded that these types of lectures, resources and information
are just as necessary in college.
Last week, a USC student was charged with the murder of a baby
found dead in a garbage can near her campus. And though the details
of the case are not all clear, USC is already reviewing its
policies and programs to ensure adequate information and resources
regarding sexual health are available to its students.
Though there is no evidence to suggest that this incident could
have been avoided through education, it serves as a good reason to
re-evaluate existing programs, and UCLA should be a part of
this.
UCLA already offers counseling for students and the Ashe Center
provides medical diagnoses when needed. But there are few programs
aimed to actively educate students about sexual health and
rights.
Yes, there is a bowl of condoms in the Ashe Center, and Student
Health Advocates in the residential halls can give out condoms if
students knock on their doors. But having condoms readily available
for students does not mean they are being provided with adequate
resources to make correct decisions in their sex lives.
After all, there are condoms and lubricants at the grocery
store, and we don’t see them calling it the “sex
education aisle.”
It is naive of the university to think students who have
questions or problems are going to seek out sex education. The
reality is that students might feel judged walking into an office
to receive information about options after getting pregnant or that
it is “uncool” to go to a floor-wide presentation on
sexually transmitted diseases. Resources available in an office in
a corner of campus are not exactly ideal.
It should be the responsibility of the university to find less
passive ways to educate its students, even if it means instituting
a mandatory course. And students should at least meet the
university half-way on sex education by using what’s
there.
California has some of the most liberal laws in regard to sex
education and women’s reproductive rights. It is tragic to
see incidents like the one near USC, which might have been avoided
if sufficient information had been easily available.
For example, “safe surrender” laws make it possible
for babies to be dropped off at a hospital or fire station within
72 hours of birth, no questions asked.
The law went into affect in 2001 and was made permanent last
week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as its expiration was due in
2006. But state officials cannot say how effective the law has
been; according to the Los Angeles Times, 98 babies were safely
turned in over the five years the law was in effect. In the same
period, 123 newborns were found alive after being abandoned. There
are no figures available as to how many babies were abandoned but
did not survive.
We’re willing to bet a lot of people ““ especially
students ““ didn’t know about this law until after a
story hits the news. And that is why people need to scrutinize the
way they approach sex education ““ so students have the tools
to make the right decisions.