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Geneseo Sex[Ed]Geneseo Sex[Ed]We all know that being in college comes with its fair share of challenges, both emotionally and physically. And one area that often gets overlooked is sexual and reproductive health.
It’s unfortunate, but the truth is that many K-12 schools don’t provide comprehensive sexual health education. And when they do, it’s usually focused on abstinence and doesn’t provide evidence-based knowledge and skills on safer sex strategies. This lack of proper education has consequences, leading to higher rates of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Even in New York State, where HIV education is required from grades K-12, there’s still no broader requirement for sexual health education. And to make matters worse, there are no requirements to provide medically accurate information in many states. This leaves students without the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health. But it doesn’t stop there. LGBTQ+ topics are often entirely excluded from sexual health education curricula. This exclusion is unfair and denies LGBTQ+ students the support and information they deserve.
The impact of all this goes beyond just physical health. Unwanted pregnancies and STIs can have significant effects on students’ mental well-being, academic performance, and ability to complete their degrees. That’s why it’s crucial for colleges and universities to step up and address these issues as part of a comprehensive health promotion plan.
We deserve better. We deserve access to comprehensive sexual health education that includes evidence-based knowledge and skills for safer sex strategies. We deserve accurate and inclusive information that supports all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and ethnicity. And we have the right to make informed choices about our bodies.
That’s what Geneseo SEX[Ed] is all about.
Our program began when Olivia Khangi (Class of ’23) used her Edgar Fellows capstone to join forces with Dr. Amy Braksmajer, a professor in the Sociology Department, to work on a study to learn about the sexual health needs of Geneseo students.
The findings from her focus groups were eye-opening:
So, we listened to the voices of our fellow students and took action! After receiving a well-deserved Student Ambassador Award from the Center for Integrative Learning, Olivia worked with faculty, staff, and administrators to create the SEX[Ed] program. We want to make sure that everyone knows how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies, STIs, and HIV – but also how to maximize pleasure, communication, and mutual respect, regardless of whether you’re in a long-term relationship or hooking up with someone new. We’ve worked hard to provide you with a ton of information, links, and resources that can help you reach those goals!
The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It does not replace a personal relationship with a licensed health care provider and is not intended to provide medical advice. We strongly recommend that you make your health care decisions based on your own research and knowledge of your body, in collaboration with one or more licensed health care providers.
The hosting for this website is provided by SUNY Geneseo as a courtesy, but it is not an official College publication. The statements and opinions expressed in content of this website do not represent the official position or policy of SUNY Geneseo.
