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Show Information DAVID ANDERSON Chronicle Staff Writer Alfred Romeo worked in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He saw the most severe conditions that can plague an infant. He remembers one case that was as preventable as it was devastating: a baby bom with syphilis. The infant was bom with brain lesions. Doctors gave him medications and connected him to a breathing machine. He did not have normal brain functions: he was uncomfortable, spastic and arched his back far more than normal infants do. After a few months, he died. The mother was in prison, said Romeo, so she could not come to sec the infant. But the grandmother came regularly. She had a hard time accepting the fact that the infant would die. She didn't want the physicians to withdraw life support. Romeo saw her pain. And he knew that it was avoidable. "If the mother had been treated when she first had syphilis" he said, "or if she had been careful with her partner to find out his history and not contracted syphilis, or if she had taken precautions not to get pregnant, these problems could have been avoided." Romeo now .teaches courses in health education, and he wants students to have the information they need to make sexual choices. He invited Project SHOW-Mto his Human lifestyles class to give presentations on condoms, HIV and diseases. SHOW-Mis one campus Project several that help stugroup among dents make informed sexual health decisions. These campus groups help students communicate better with their partners; choose safe ways to avoid STDs and unwanted pregnancies; and expose the myths, misconceptions and stereotypes that swarm around sexual issues. However, many people don't believe that a frank discussion of sexual health options can actually prevent disasters like a baby bom with E sexually-transmitte- d E syphilis. Gayle Ruzicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum, believes that abstinence and healthy lifestyles are with drugs, prostitution and stealing. I think that now as a nation we're paying some pretty serious penalties for this attitude. It hasn't protected young people at alL" It's hard to know what approach is best One study, reported by the Sex Information Council of. the U.S., found that sexuality and programs do not increase the frequency of intercourse or the number of sexual partners. It found that the programs increase contraceptive and condom use, and that they may delay the onset of intercourse. On the other hand, the Eagle Forum cites studies showing that sex education increases teen pregnancies and sexual activity. One study, conducted for Planned Parenthood, finds that teens who were given com- -' prehensive sex education have a 50 percent higher rate of sexual activity than those who were not Another shows that teen pregnancy and abortion rates are way up, despite massive increases in federal funds for sexual education. The conflict over the effect of sexual health information puts pressure on groups that deal with sex. Peter Small used to direct the Bennion Center AIDS Project. He recalls one individual who felt strongly that the project should not promote safer sex. "He thought that it should only HlV-cduca-tio- pr:1 1 JL J Ji - n 4 I J- - Chmonku Photo KcMy Knudson When Al Romeo worked in neo natal intensive care, he saw the disastrous effects of teen pregnancy and STDs firsthand. Now a teacher and health educator, he hopes to persuade his students to make responsible decisions about sex. message right up front that only abstinence is 100 percent safe," he said, that person may react against the kits. Condoms are available through vending machines in the Law the SocialBehavioral Library, Sciences Building, the Engineering and Mines Building and the Medical School. "The AIDS Advisory Committee selected sites for the machines where older students are more likely to find them than younger students. "Those aren't the most visited places on the U. campus," said Bills. "And I would much rather see condom machines in areas where students are more likely to find them." Groups like the Utah Eagle and educator in Project SHOW-Mremembers staffing an information table on World AIDS Day. While be abstinence," Small said. "He lob- most people were sympathetic to the bied very hard with the director of table and its information about sexu- the Bennion Center and other people al health, a few angry individuals to make that change. His opinion accosted her to say that homosexualwas that we were promoting death. ity had ruined all society. They said He called it Russian Roulette." that if people just lived the laws of Small recalls being heckled at God, everything would be OK. tables the project held at health fairs. "Maybe that's right, but yoif think "I've sat at tables where people have it's right" said BatesrJThat's one come up and (made a) slanderous person's view." comment." Bates is a returned IDS mission-- ' Marin Granholm is the director of is ary. She believes the Bennion Center AIDS Project the "best and the to only way" way She says that when a large portion of prevent STDs and unwanted pregthe AIDS quilt came to the Salt nancies. Palace last year, a number of parents "But that's my choice," she said. called their elementary schools ' to "And if it's someone else's choice to make sure that their children didn't be sexually active, I try to help them go to sec the quilt. make the best choice that will fit "They felt like it was advocating a them and their lifestyle." lifestyle that they didn't want to suphad planned Project SHOW-Mport," she says. Students were sent to distribute safer-sekits at this home with a note, and parents were year's Plaza Fest, a showcase of camfree to with pus clubs for entering freshmen. The hold per safer-sekits give latex condoms, mission. ' show how to use a condom correcdy Brenda and provide phone numbers for con- Bates is fidential HIV counseling and testing. peer The project received a letter from the U. administration requesting that 1 v it not distribute the kits. Andrew Bills is the sor of Project SHOW- ' ME. He maintains that condom availability is crucial for sexually 1 active students, who are a majority on col- lege campuses; But I he points out that ;; there, is more to the " safer-sekits than the condoms. just If someone just I hears that the 1 safer-sekits are E ". that-abstinen- Forum deny that condoms are a safe option. UEF information cites a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association that one in three people will showing contract AIDS from an infected partner when a condom is used every time. Literature from Project SHOW-ME- , on the other hand, states that condoms are highly effective if used correcdy. While controversies rage over whether abstinence or sexual education is a better tool to halt the spread of HrV, to control STDs and to prevent unwanted pregnancies, all the different voices share a common goal: to increase the safety and comfort of babies, parents and every human being. . E x x the only solution for problems like teen pregnancy, STDs and the spread of HIV. She says that sexual health educators have not absti emphasized nence enough. "We've taken this turn where we believe that abstinence is if Vf.VKil the best way to go, but we know that .1' it's not pracshe tical," said. "We v' have to teach students! to i s handle their sexual activaccompanied emoities (by) condoms, well as tionally 1 , without, seeing X as physically. We teach the informa V about contraceptives and tion about v say 'Don't feel guilty about use now to '"' i your decisions' con the "We used to teach right and doms in she continuea. wrong, the "kits, "Now we Say that you withoutSwope and Jill Zuesett, members of Peers Educating decide what's right and IMicheal : scenario. enact a date-rap- e seeing . the Rape, wrong. We don't say that ; - AOAM i co-ad- '" I 4 " : 1 " ,r- - - x U . x v, : I f role-playi- ng Chuonku Photo Ted McKinley .; - Gayle Ruzicka, shown at her home, is president of Utah's Eagle Forum. Mie says sexual educators should emphasize abstinence because it is the only way to combat STDs and pregnancy |