If you walked down the Lawn toward Cabell Hall yesterday, you may have been perplexed to see a seemingly misplaced toy -- one shaped as a penis wearing a condom. This strange toy was situated on the Promoting-HIV Negativity table, as the organization held its "Safer Sex Day," handing out condoms and brochures to promote safer sex -- focusing on preventing STDs and especially AIDS.
"Safer Sex Day" is one of four main events held by the organization each year.
Fourth-year College Student Alyssa Lederer, director of Promoting-HIV Negativity, said all of the organization's events are geared toward preventing AIDS.
"We also have events on the World AIDS day, AIDS Awareness Day and HIV Testing Awareness Day," Lederer said.
The main draw of this event, however, was the free condoms.
"We had 800 condoms in the morning -- now we're almost out," said Adila Guiseppi, a third-year Engineering student and co-chair of the event. "The attention has been great."
Second-year College student Jason Sonnenschein was one participant in the "guess how many condoms are in the jar so you can win it all" game.
"I think what they're doing is great," Sonnenschein said. "I think a lot of people kind of know [about safe sex], but people don't follow it through."
The condoms were donated by the Ryan White Clinic, one of the associations the group works with.
Lederer said the organization was formed seven years ago and has several hundred people on its mailing list, 20 of whom are active members.
"Everyone is welcome at our meetings," she added, which are held every Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Newcomb 389.
She also emphasized that the group has the opportunity to make a real difference.
"HIV can be prevented if people are aware," Lederer said. "Open communication, awareness, decreasing stigma and education all work towards decreasing HIV."
Third-year College student Aaron Miracle also said he believes that there is a necessity for addressing the issue.
"It's not just enough to be aware to apply safe sex -- you've got to be comfortable with addressing these issues," Miracle said.
Even though students have paid a great deal of attention to their events, the organization's members still said they deal with some negative feedback.
"It's a controversial issue," Guiseppi said. "Just promoting the issue we had opposition."
The negative feedback was primarily directed at the organization's effort to promote an approach to safer sex other than abstinence.
"As much as discussing abstinence is necessary, discussing safer sex is also necessary because people need to be aware of all their options when it comes to sexual practices," Miracle said.
The organization stresses the importance of AIDS in our generation.
"Fifty percent of the new HIV cases are made up by the under-25 age group," Laderer said. "It is important for people to know."
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