by Paula Bowker
Daily Lobo
Students were educated about the causes and effects of sexually transmitted infections Thursday on Smith Plaza.
"College students, especially younger ones, really feel invincible and think they aren't going to get an STI," said Elisabeth Zahl, event coordinator for STI Awareness Day.
She said people know sex will feel good but don't think of the consequences.
Organizations handed out information for students about sexually transmitted infections, rape and other issues concerning sex.
Kate Schneier, women's health project coordinator at New Mexico AIDS Services, said around 3,000 people have an HIV infection in New Mexico.
"I highly encourage people to get tested," Schneier said. "If you have had chlamydia, there's a chance you can be HIV positive."
Schneier said women are at a higher risk for HIV.
Art Salazar of the New Mexico Department of Health said the awareness day was created to encourage students to take responsibility for their sexual health.
Student Delilah Leyba said she was trying to find the statistics for how many people are having sex without protection.
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"A lot of girls think that if they are on birth control, they do not need to use a condom, because they trust their partner," she said.
Tom Collins works for the Student Health Center and was there to inform men on STIs.
He said women get tested more regularly, while men tend to wait for symptoms.
"People can have an STI and have no idea," Collins said. "There can be no symptoms, even for HIV."
Douglas Captain of the Mpowerment Project was at the event to give information to men of any sexual orientation. The Mpowerment Project is an HIV prevention program with 49 locations in the country.
"The rate of HIV infection is more prominent with heterosexual women," Captain said. "Second after that is gay men," Captain said.
Captain said his program wants to teach people about a safer way to have sex and still have fun. People should not be frightened to talk about it with partners or friends, he said.
The event was sponsored by the Student Health Center.
