Abstinence Only Sex Education: Awareness or Negligence?
Ubiq Editor
Starting the semester - off with drugs and then skipping right into sex.
UW-WC's College Democrat Club hits some important issues as it invites lecturers to speak to students on campus.
Tuesday, Feb. 28, there was a lecture concerning abstinence only sex education by Carolyn Ponder, an intern at Planned Parenthood. The lecture took place in the cafeteria over the lunch period after which she allowed for some question-and-answer time.
Carolyn Ponder talks at the UW-WC College Democrats-sponsored lecture on sex education. (Mark Buchanan)
The lecture started by covering what Planned Parenthood's mission statement in which the organization: "believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage on her or his fertility, regardless of the individuals income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence."
Ponder highlighted the last few hundred years in which people started becoming more concerned with other options that simply unprotected sex, including the laws that once kept women from having the right to choose.
Ponder talked about how Wisconsin was better off than most states by being progressive and having a governor who is pro-choice. We have compassionate care for rape victims, in which hospitals are required to provide emergency medical care to rape victims and information about emergency contraception.
If taken within 72 hours, the pill is at least 75-percent effective in preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse and if taken within 24 hours, it is 95-percent effective, according to Planned Parenthood's informational guide.
Planned Parenthood is also concerned with responsible sex education. It wants to ensure sex education is taught in Wisconsin's schools with scientifically-based and comprehensive information. This includes information about abstinence and the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through use of contraceptives.
The lecture covered things such as access to reproductive health care in which the "Birth Control Protection Act" ensures that it's the pharmacists' ethical duty to dispense safe, legal birth control prescriptions, and clarifies in Wisconsin law that birth control is not included in the definition of abortion.
While Wisconsin has many benefits, nine laws now restrict women's access to abortion. A battle is now raging that includes opposition's efforts to restrict access to birth control and sex education.
On a federal level, the Bush Administration's "No Child Left Behind Act" has a notation within it stating schools will not receive federal funding unless the only method of sex education is abstinence.
The UW-WC College Democrats Club seemed pleased with the lecture; however, it was surprised at the number of people that seemed uninterested in the precautions that should be taken with sex and the political implications our government wants to change.
Check out Planned Parenthood online at www.ppawi.org or the UW-WC College Democrats in person every Tuesday at noon in the Fireside Lounge for more information.
