Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) has become a major issue on college campuses, thanks in part to a recent push for women to speak out about their experiences of sexual abuse.
Safety Net, a peer-led University of Memphis student organization and support group, aims to both provide support for victims of sexual assault and to address sexual violence on campus. The group hosted a Pop Up Sex Talk event Wednesday in the University Center Atrium to start a conversation about the importance of safe sex.
Courtney Paige Harrough, a 25-year-old senior psychology major and founder of Safety Net, discussed with attendees what is known nationally as the “red zone,” the time frame in which sexual assault is increasingly likely to occur. Usually, the red zone is considered the first six weeks of the semester, but Harrough considers the first three months an appropriate time frame for U of M’s red zone.
“We want to normalize what it means to be autonomous with your body, and to have rights with your body not just personally with yourself, but with others and protecting yourself and your peers,” Harrough said.
Harrough said although the U of M has taken steps towards fighting sexual violence on campus, Safety Net wants to do more by bringing awareness and helping survivors of sexual assault.
“There are high rates of sexual violence on our campus,” Harrough said. “That’s not to say the University of Memphis is not doing anything to help the situation, but we at Safety Net want to bring awareness to this. We want to bring support to survivors and promote safe sex.”
During the event, students were able to learn about the dangers of sexual assault and the resources available for survivors. Safety Net also informed students about the dangers of STIs and unsafe sex. After engaging with members of Safety Net, attendees were offered free condom packages and safe sex bags provided by both Friends for Life and Choices, two partner organizations that helped sponsor the event.
Nikkino Wesson, a senior health studies major and vice president of Safety Net, said Safety Net’s work is especially important because many incoming college students have not talked about sexual issues in their high schools.
“It’s of upmost importance to not only start these conversations but to continue them,” Wesson said. “We are not getting these conversations in high school or middle school. They are not starting because we are in the South, and these conversations are unheard of (here).”
The group will be hosting their “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event Thursday at 5 p.m., starting by the Ramses Statue on Central Avenue.
Safety Net member Nikkino Wesson and Patricia Thomas let U of M senior Barbarita Vega pick condoms out of a basket. The group handed out condoms to anyone who talked to them about college sex issues.
Senior U of M student Barbara Vega
