Always wear a condom.
The Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-health honor society and their division Students Advocating Informed Decisions are spreading this message for the Valentine's Day season.
In the days before the love-inspired day, a group of six to eight students fliered in the J. Wayne Reitz Union promenade handing out condoms, how-to-use a condom directions and STD statistics.
Melanie Contois, 19, and Brian Simmons, 21, are co-directors of the SAID division and said they felt students needed an extra reminder of all the bad things that can go wrong if someone is unprepared.
"The statistic I want to make sure everyone is aware of is that one in four Americans has an STD," Contois said. "It only takes one time. It does not have to be a habitual action in order for someone to get pregnant or acquire an STD."
Simmons said he doesn't think people want to recognize the consequences and they only think about the here-and-now. He preaches to his friends that one night of fun can turn into a lifetime of turmoil and chaos.
People have to realize that the risk of STD's and pregnancy increase exponentially because people have casual sex with multiple partners, he said.
"Casual sex is promoted in television shows and I want to bring students back to reality and remind them they are not invincible," Contois said.
Students walking in the promenade exhibited different expressions on their faces. Some students have shocked faces because a condom is being handed to them and others accept it with open arms.
Michael Quintana, 24, said after he received the statistics flier his jaw dropped because of the numerous facts he had never heard.
"Don't lose your v-card on V-day. At least not if it's unprotected," Quintana said. "This will be my personal message from now on."
The goal of the society is to raise awareness about different health-related issues in the college community. In the past, they have participated in more than 100 projects affiliated with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Alachua County Health Department, Alachua County Humane Society, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
