emma grazado - final project

Sexual Health at the University of Maryland

At the University of Maryland, College Park, there are many resources available for students. Many of them, however, go unnoticed. Over the past few weeks, I have attended multiple events and spoken to many representatives to try to shed light on the sexual health information and events present on our campus.

In many residence halls at UMD, Resident's Assistants use the bulletin boards to spread messages about sexual health and sexual safety. This board, in Queen Anne's Hall, shows how to determine whether or not someone has consented to sexual relations.

The University Health Center, located across the street from the Stamp Student Union, is home to many incredible sexual health resources. Free STD testing happens on the ground floor of the Health Center the third Thursday of every month, and students can send birth control prescriptions to be picked up here as well.

"I'm really impressed by our health center in general, specifically our sexual health services," said Rachel Greenberg, a senior women's studies major at UMD. Greenberg recently wrote her senior honors thesis on pregnancy decision making and abortion access among college students. 

Preventing Sexual Assault's Occupy McKeldin event was held in April. The 8-hour long demonstration featured speakers of survivors, activities for survivors and supporters, and resources for anyone in need of help. Campus Advocates Respond and Educate to Stop Violence, or CARE to Stop Violence, peer advocates tabled at the event.

CARE is part of the University Health Center and works to protect sexual assault and relationship violence, especially on UMD's campus.

On April 10th, CARE organized the Clothesline Project to promote Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual assault survivors and supporters decorated shirts showing their sentiments. The shirts were hung up on the Hornbake quad.

The UMD Condom Fashion Show was held in the Stamp Student Union on April 10th, 2019, as a part of UMD Sex Week, in honor of Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. Student teams are given condoms to create an outfit, and walk down the runway in their creations.

The first condom outfit was created by Triota, a Women's Studies Honor organization on campus. Their pink and blue creation featured wings that their model used to fly down the runway.

The event was sponsored by Global Protection ONE Condoms, with the University Health Center and Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy. Free condoms are available at almost all events on the topic of sexual health, and there are always some in the health center as well.

Payton Mohammed, Condom Fashion Show MC and singer with Mockappella, a parody a cappella group on campus, sang an updated version of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," by Whitney Houston during the fashion show intermission. Mohammed's version was called "I Wanna Sleep With Somebody."

Planned Parenthood tabled the UMD Condom Fashion Show event, offering free informational pamphlets as well as fun stickers for attendees. Freshman Jenna Cohen and senior Rachel Greenberg add their stickers to their reusable water bottles.

The winner of the Condom Fashion Show was the Sexual Health Peers team from the University Health Center. Their ensemble was inspired by the African diaspora and the history of black women in America.

Sexual health and sexual assault prevention has become increasingly important in UMD's Sorority and Fraternity life. Chapters like Gamma Phi Beta host events with teams of Health Center Peer Advocates to educate their members on safe sex practices.

Gamma Phi Beta President Madi Jackson also works as a CARE Peer Educator, helping deliver presentations to student groups and educating the UMD community on sexual health.

"CARE's resources are pretty phenomenal, because they're research-backed and coming from a trauma-informed approach," Jackson said.

"We want more people to request CARE presentations," Jackson said. "That's why the outreach office has been so great in the past couple of years."

In the meantime, Jackson lives in the chapter house, and her door is covered in information flyers for members to view if needed.

The Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct is the largest umbrella organization on campus that deals with sexual assault prevention and Title IX resources for students. The office hosted "Tea with Title IX" with the UMD Student Government Association as an open forum for students to ask representatives questions about Title IX policy and sexual assault prevention.

Christina Jay, CARE Lead Advocate, and Samantha Williams, investigator for the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct, attended the Tea with Title IX event to speak with students.

Mark Nelms, an investigator in the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct, answers a student's question about what resources and services are available if a survivor of sexual assault wants to press charges or notify the school.

I chose this topic to cover because I believe that sexual health in any community is essential. I'm lucky to go to a school that has great resources, both on the topic of sexual health and sexual assault prevention. I hope that these resources are known among students.