Easter eggs hide safe sex surprise

Easter eggs filled with candy and condoms appeared at various locations on A&M-Commerce's campus, on April 5.

The eggs also contained a note, which read, "Have A Happy Easter…in Bed."

Although no one has taken responsibility for distributing the eggs, Lt. Jason Bone of the University Police Department thinks the message was positive.

"They should have had permission to put out the eggs, but our students' health is a good thing," he said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the month of April "kicked-off" National Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness for college campuses.
The two organizations partnered with MTV to launch the campaign "GYT: Get Yourself Tested."

"The campaign encourages Americans under the age of 25 to talk with their health care providers and partners about getting tested for STDs," according to CDC's Web site. "Women are more susceptible to infection than men, and in 2008 the highest number of infected women fell between the ages of 15-19, followed by 20-24. That year alone, 7.5 million women between the ages of 14-24 had HPV."

Administrative Secretary of the Student Health Center Kelly Daily thinks the eggs were interesting, humorous, and had a relevant message.

"Health awareness is a good practice for students," she said. "We encourage students to have a checkup done every couple of months for STDs and/or for general health."

According to the CDC, condoms, when used correctly, can reduce the risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, genital herpes and cancroids, "only when the infected area or site of potential exposure is protected."

Senior math major Karen Tawater has a 16-year-old son and is strict in the discussions of sex and STDs.

"When I was 16, safe sex was only about not getting pregnant," she said. "Today, safe sex is more than preventing pregnancy. It is a life or death situation."

Tawater advises her son to always use protection and to be honest with partners. She thinks that some people may be embarrassed about having or carrying an STD, but preventing their spread is important.


"People under the age of 25 represent half of the estimated 19 million people with STD's in the United States each year," according to the CDC Web site.

"Other estimates suggest one in every two sexually active young people will contract an STD by the age of 25 and most won't even know it."

The Student Health Center offers free HIV and syphilis testing every other Thursday. The next available testing is April 22.

STD tests are available by appointment and are $30. The center does not accept any medical insurance.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday. The center closes at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Walk-ins are accepted, or appointments can be made by calling 903-886-5853.