Safe Valentine

Every year, the world gets one day to show affection to their loved one. Some people can’t wait for that day, others can’t stand it. That day is none other than February 14, or Valentine’s Day as we know it. The main topic of this day is love – some show it for friends, but most show it to a significant other. We spend weeks preparing the perfect gestures and dates: buying giant teddy bears, boxes of chocolate, cards that say, “I love you,” and even bouquets of flowers.

To celebrate this Valentine’s Day, the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) decided to host a Valentines Day Extravaganza. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the event was held in CCIT room 397. Prior to the event, the organization asked their peers to submit questions via Curious Cat. Curious Cat is a service created through Twitter that allows users to anonymously ask questions. As guests entered the event, they were met by a table where they were asked to chose wristbands and index cards. The wristbands and index cards indicated whether the guest was single, looking for a friend, or in a relationship.

Though SHAC hosted the event, they were not the only organization that participated. The hosts were aided by Lady B.U.G.S., Creative Minds, Women in Computer Science (WiCS), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Each student organization had their own table set up around the room with incentives and information. One of the particularly noteworthy features was the photo booth that the organization decided to incorporate.

During the event, the guests were asked to take their seats for the forum section to begin. At that time, the organizations began to discuss the questions that their fellow Bobcats had anonymously asked. Students were able to ask questions pertaining to friendships, relationships, and even sex. The event was held not only to give students something to attend but mainly to help students focus on health. Questions were answered by the students of the multiple organizations, as well as SHAC nurses and advisors. They wanted students to have a safe place to get advice on healthy friendships, healthy relationships, and most of all, safe sex. Some of the hosts even acted out scenarios to inform and entertain the attendees. Each student was given a goodie bag upon entry that contained candy and two condoms provided by the Brady Health Center.

The Bottom Line would like to thank SHAC and all of the contributing student organizations for putting together such an informational and entertaining event. We can’t wait to see what each of these organizations have planned for the rest of the spring semester.