With hip-hop blaring, balloons drifting, and mounds of tootsie rolls and condoms up for grabs, the Student Union looked like a scene straight out of MTV on Monday.
UB's Sex Ed Fair reeled in curious students with a variety of information tables set up to educate students about safer sex.
"Right now, it's not just at our university, but schools in general, where sexual education is constantly being compromised," said Eileen Marutiak, a senior communication major and part-time employee at Planned Parenthood.
"The focus is taken away from making healthy choices and placed on one choice, abstinence. This fair provides a very informed atmosphere for students to get answers."
Rebecca Stevens, a training specialist for Crisis Services, echoed Marutiak's sentiments.
"Sex is taboo in society and that is why violence happens and STDs are spread. Being more comfortable in discussing sex, assault, and prevention are important," she said."
A variety of on- and off-campus groups set up shop in for the event, including Wellness Education Services, Health Education and Human Services, LGBTA, Planned Parenthood, Crisis Services, Counseling Services, and representatives from contraceptive pharmaceutical companies Glaxo and Ortho-Tricyclen.
Representatives from each group agreed the main point of the fair is to teach students that help is available as well as solutions and preventions for sexual concerns both on and off campus.
"There are organizations on-campus you can go to with questions," said Marla Jurek, event coordinator. "It is important for students just to know that we exist. We have free condoms, and Health Services has inexpensive contraceptives."
The available services, however, are not solely limited to contraceptive methods. Counseling Services added that they are available for emotional, psychological, and social wellness counseling.
In addition, Health Services had a presentation on how to detect syphilis, and they are currently promoting Oraquick, a new way to quickly and inexpensively indicate the presence of HIV.
"It's important for people to start applying all the knowledge that they have learned here and just to know that these places exist to come to," said Shea Akers, a junior anthropology major.
Numerous students who stopped by at the fair said they understood the importance of safer sex and agreed fairs like Monday's are needed.
"People like to laugh about sex, but it's really a serious subject that needs to be addressed," said Emily Rowland, sophomore anthropology major. "The fair promotes education."
Amy Partington, a sophomore biology major, said she was pleased with the information she received at the fair.
"The representatives were very friendly and willing to answer any questions that people had," she said. "It brought the information to students rather than students having to go to South Campus to the Health Center."
