Students report safer sex practices in college

Published: Friday, March 3, 1995

Survey shows fear of AIDS, STDs has curbed casual sex

By Allyssa Lee

As a result of growing concerns about sexually transmitted diseases and fear of AIDS, more students say they're trading casual sex for caution.

And studies show that the campus community is not alone.

The National Health and Social Life Survey, conducted as a response to the growing AIDS crisis, reported that the United States population engaged in very diverse sexual practices. But on the whole, survey results showed that people were much less sexually active than previously believed, according to "Sex in America: A Definitive Survey." The survey reported 30 percent of the national population has changed their sexual behavior due to the advent of AIDS.

Attitudes among UCLA students matched the nation's concerns, Student Health Services officials said.

"My sense is that people are being more careful, that they're using more condoms than 10 years ago," said Ann Downie, nurse manager of the women's health clinic at Student Health Services. "There's more responsible behavior, perhaps with students in more long term monogamous relationships."

Student Health Officials said they have seen a push to have safe sex since the advent of AIDS.

"I think college students are more careful than they used to be," said Darlene Mininni, a sex education coordinator student health services. "I think that if the sexuality involves a situation that involves a one time experience, then they're more careful, like if somebody is at Acapulco's, has a couple beers and sees someone across the bar then they're more careful."

Students said they also see a decline in the amount of promiscuity on campus.

"Most of my friends tend to date less," said Ted Lam, a fourth-year civil engineering student. "They tend to stick to the same boyfriend/girlfriend, and they don't seem to go out to clubs anymore. It's more careful, I guess, than high school ... people are more patient.

"It seems like they want to get to know the opposite sex more (before they date them)," Lam added.

Pressures to have safe sex are increasing as more students in the dorms appear to belong in monogamous relationships, according to Todd Sargent, residential assistant at Sproul Hall,

"There's a feeling that you have to be safe," Sargent said. "If there's any peer pressure to have sex at all, it's to have safe sex. And I'm seeing a lot of committed, long term relationships. Casual sex is very rare."

Mininni added, however that students are more likely not to take precautions if they are involved in a long-term relationship.

"If it involves something more emotionally serious, like if somebody meets somebody and likes them really well, they date and have sex, then oftentimes they don't (use a condom)," Mininni said.

But according to Dr. Shane Que Hee, an associate professor and staff member of the Lesbian and Gay Faculty/Staff Network, more caution may abound as a result of AIDS, but in general, sexual attitudes have not changed.

"Most people don't change their attitudes," Que Hee said. "Definitely people are more discriminating, but there is the same amount of sexual activity, but maybe more with fewer people. "You may compensate your sexual activity by having more sexual activity with less people."

Still some students continue to ignore the threat of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, students said.

"I think a lot of people ignore it," said Jill Dever, a first-year microbiology student. "They think they're not at risk. I know I'm monogamous, but I know a lot of people that aren't. It's the whole idea that 'it can't happen to me' you know stupidity."

"I don't think (sexual attitudes) have changed (since high school)," Dever added. "It's the whole 'you're not supposed to do it, but everyone does it' attitude. But I guess in college I find that people are more safe."