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Show Check yourself before you wreck yourself Saudi Students • Celebrate Culture 1111111•11111 Meddal Records BY JULIANNE SKIVRAN /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY KIFFER CREVLING he Center for Student Wellness wants students to get tested before they get sexy. The Health and Wellness Center is partnering with the Student Health Advisory Committee, part of the U's Student Health Center, to offer free HIV and STD testing for any student with a valid UCard. The HIV testing consists of a painless oral swab, with results ready in 20 minutes. Katie Stiel, the program manager for the Center for Student Wellness, said being tested can be "empowering." "We don't talk to students about sexual health when they are younger, and then when they're older and come to campus, they are expected to know how to negotiate sex and protect themselves," she said. "We have this fear about talking about sex." Stiel said students should feel normal about HIV and STD tests, even if it seems "scary." "We need to normalize talking to your partner about sex," she T IF YOU ARE LATE FOR UR APPOINMENT. YOU MAY RE ARM TO IMEINLE. roncellations said. "On campus, people are falling in love and breaking out on their own and discovering who they are, and developing sexually is a big part of that. We're trying to normalize the use of contraception and condoms, and with that comes testing." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "About 60 percent of all youth with HIV do not know they are infected, are not getting treated, and can unknowingly pass the virus on to others." Stiel wants students to improve that statistic. "It's important to get tested because finding out early can help students live longer and healthier lives," she said. "It's a good habit. It's a protective factor. It's a way to look out for yourself and for others." The Wellness Center and the Health Center are also providing U students with counselors who can go into details about HIV and STD education, how to prevent the disease and virus, and the next steps to take if the test results are positive. Jordyn Middleton, sophomore in pre-education, said it's 4 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 2014 } good for students to follow the "better safe than sorry" adage and get tested. "I think it's important because you never know what could happen," she said. "Even if you think it is impossible for you to have [it]." The U is also offering mobile testing clinics. At the last clinic, the two centers visited the residence halls, and 32 students took the test for HIV and 35 students for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Next Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Union Building, the Wellness Center and the Health Center will conduct more free HIV and STD testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as free flu shots from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stiel said students should follow the two centers on Instagram and Facebook to see where the mobile sites will be in the future. j.skrivan@chronicle.utah.edu @JulianneSkrivan BY EMILIE TREPANIER /STAFF WRITER PHOTOS BY CHRIS SAMUELS rab and American flags were flown together in the Union Ballroom on Wednesday night, as music played in the background. The flag of Saudi Arabia, which is green and white, reads "Allah is the only God, Muhammad is His messenger" in Arabic. The colors waved next to the United States' red, white and blue. The event, hosted by the U's Saudi Club, celebrated the 84th annual Saudi Day. Meshari Almutairi, a senior in political science, organized the event with the help of volunteers. The day took three weeks of planning to come together, and Almutairi said everything from the napkins to decorations were handmade. Almutairi, who is from Saudi Arabia, said he wants ev- A erybody to know about the culture, especially the bringing together of two heritages, Islamic and Arabic. He said since there is a large number of Saudi students at the U, he wanted to give people a positive image about the culture. The event began with children welcoming all who participated, tossing rose petals. The anthem of Saudi Arabia played with a subsequent recitation of the Quran. Almutairi said when he first came to Utah he lived in Cedar City and felt "culture shock that I enjoyed:' He enjoyed living with his hosts and called them his second family. Almutairi, as well as attendees at the event, wore traditional Saudi clothing. "Bisht," an article of Saudi garb, is similar in formality to a suit and tie. Traditional clothing was presented in booths where people could try outfits on and take pictures. In other booths, organizers hung up photos of past and present Saudi lifestyles. When he started at the U, Almutairi said a girl in one of his classes thought Saudis lived in an oldfashioned style compared to America. But, he said, the region is up-to-date. "Our purpose is to show the U.S. how we were then and now," Alm utairi said. Bayan Al Talhi, a freshman in nursing and a student at the U's English Institute, said she attended the event because she should be there to represent her cultural heritage. "We should be proud about Saudi:' she said. Murooj Bughdady, also a student at the English Institute, said the event is great for people to learn about the Saudi culture. She said there are many Saudis at the U and hopes other students will understand them more. e.trepanier@chronicle.utah.edu @emiliedeann 5 |