STIs are uncomfortable to talk about, especially on a college campus. Students often feel shy and embarrassed to talk about sexually transmitted infections, but the truth is that talking about them can destigmatize this common reality for many students on campus. Getting tested or receiving treatment for something that could affect your body on a daily basis is crucial, and luckily Syracuse University provides multiple resources to make this accessible. The Barnes Center supplies students with plenty of sexual health tools such as contraceptives, STI testing and sexual health presentations.

On Sept. 20, SU held an event called GYT: Get Yourself Tested. GYT offers free STI testing to students in a confidential and shame-free environment.

John Jankovic, the co-chair of student life for SU’s Student Association, which co-sponsored the event, said many students came to get tested.

“We purchased 150 STI kits, and all of them were used,” Jankovic said.

The Student Association plans to hold two more events just like this one in the coming months.

 

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Although some students are clearly eager to participate in events like GYT, the stigma around STIs still persists. When it comes to getting tested for STIs, people are clearly hesitant. Forty-two percent of people between the ages of 15 and 25 who have never been tested for an STI believe they are not at risk. This is the result of a lack of education about STIs and stigmas surrounding contracting or being tested for them.

“No one should feel ashamed to get tested for an STI,” Jankovic said. “We’re all just college students.”

Many students at SU are in the same situation. Despite being aware of the gravity of STIs, the stigma surrounding them often prevents them from taking action.

If every student takes the necessary precautions to maintain proper sexual health, the stigma surrounding STIs will deteriorate. There is simply no reason to denounce such a reasonable trip to the wellness center. Judging from the GYT turnout, plenty of SU students are already on board with being proactive when it comes to sexual health. It’s time that more students follow their lead.

Next time the university holds an event like this one, seriously consider going. Jankovic suggests going with friends if you’re nervous or shy about being tested.

The most important place to start in the process of destigmatizing getting tested and treated for STIs is the education students are receiving. By informing students about contracting and preventing STIs and just how easy it is to get tested on campus, they become less and less intimidating.

Walking into the Barnes Center to ask for a screening can certainly be a daunting task, but it’s the first step toward changing the culture around getting tested.

The ability to maintain sexual health on campus has become so accessible through events like Get Yourself Tested, and every student at Syracuse University should take advantage of them. If students want a healthy and positive environment surrounding sexual health on campus, they must be willing to have open conversations about STIs and encourage each other to get tested.

Alex Battaglia is a freshman newspaper and online journalism major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at abatta02@syr.edu. She can be followed on Twitter at @alex_battaglia.

Published on September 29, 2019 at 8:50 pm