Letter to the Editor

I am writing in response to Kassi Gillette's article, "Sexually active students should test for STDs."

I must begin by saying that I appreciate the intention of the article. Due to a lack of comprehensive sexuality education before college, many students arrive at institutions of higher education without even basic knowledge of sexually transmitted infections.

However, I have an issue with both the tone of and the facts in the article.

The tone is both flippant and fear-based. I agree with the author including descriptions of common STIs and their symptoms, but I do not agree with using such information to frighten people away from sex. At one point, the author even mentions, "Hopefully these graphic descriptions have stirred a motive to get tested as much as possible." We should inform people about STIs and protection, but the goal should not be to scare people. When we use such fear-based approaches with graphic and moralizing depictions of diseases, we risk people preferring to be ignorant of their status to being tested.

In addition to the negative slant of the article, the sources of information are quite troubling. Several times the author quotes two students who have no obvious background or expertise in health fields. The author not only quotes these students, but also presents their opinions as factual health information. I do not believe that students majoring in business or elementary education are equipped to state how often students should go in for STI tests. The author's decision to have the business major state when people should go in for tests is irresponsible. Additionally, the article would benefit from the author mentioning the low-cost and often free testing options available at Planned Parenthood instead of just listing them. This would be helpful for college students on a tight budget who need to know where to go for affordable services.

Acknowledging the presence and symptoms of STIs and ways to protect oneself makes this an important topic for the college community. I would encourage the author in the future to continue such discussions, but to do so in a way that maintains journalistic standards of reporting information.

-Joseph Richards Public Affairs Coordinator, Pun Savant Planned Parenthood Action Council