CU health officials might consider Trojan a tough grader.
Trojan ranked CU-Boulder 75th in the nation on their 2010 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card. The university’s overall 2.39 GPA is a large drop from last year’s standing at 21st.
Lee Scriggins, a professional coordinator of Community Health, the public health division of Wardenburg, said she doesn’t think the report reflects the true sexual health atmosphere on campus.
“We really look at [the report] as a marketing opportunity for a company rather than a true resource for students,” Scriggins said. “We still provide free condoms, accessible health information and a chance to be involved in your community and promote sex positivity. It was the same as last year and we are always going to strive for best practices in public health.”
Gigi Cotton, a 21-year-old senior news editorial journalism major, Community Health student coordinator and HIV tester, said she also feels the rankings are subjective.
“I don’t see any difference [from this year to last year’s sexual health awareness], but I think it’s one of those hard things to measure because it’s not like you’re in people’s bedrooms with them,” Cotton said. “As far as people coming in [to Community Health], I’ve seen an increase. I’ve only seen an increase in people’s awareness of sexual health.”
According to a news release, Sperling’s Best Places researchers created the rankings after reviewing campus health center data and student opinion polls.
The researchers calculated a cumulative GPA for each university by assigning a letter grade for twelve categories, which ranged from contraceptive and condom availability to the existence of sexual assault programs.
Community Health offers free condoms in its office and at Wardenburg, HIV testing and promotion of sex positivity through presentations like those given during freshmen orientation, Cotton said.
“Not only are we reaching [students] on a really wide scale through orientation…I think students are really receptive to this information,” she said. “I haven’t seen any decline in people accessing our resources.”
Students on campus, like Tom Panos, a 21-year-old senior environmental studies major, said they think sexual health is good on campus.
“It’s pretty healthy,” Panos said. “I think the university is doing a good enough job.”
Lauren Kloock, a 22-year-old senior international affairs major, said she agreed that awareness has not declined, but that the university’s outreach has.
“No I don’t think there’s been a decline [in sexual health on campus], but I don’t think since freshman year, during orientation, it hasn’t been as present,” Kloock said.
Rise or fall in the Trojan report, Scriggins said Community Health will continue to strive for a well-informed, sexually smart campus.
“The real work is when [students] have a place to get condoms…and seek reliable accurate information,” Scriggins said. “We really want a knowledgeable student body. That’s where the real action is in my opinion.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at Josephine.heaphy@colorado.edu.
