Sextravaganza ’08 aims to bring useful tips, fun activities to campus community

Brian Dekker has been an outreach worker for M.A.R.S (Males Advocates for Responsible Sexuality) for about two years.

A recent Oregon State University graduate with a degree in sociology and a penchant for poetry, Dekker enjoys every aspect of his job, from one-on-one counseling to classroom information sessions.

“It’s really rewarding to work with passionate people,” said Dekker, “And I’ve found that a lot of young guys are really interested in discussing their relationships.”

M.A.R.S., which focuses on addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs and concerns of males ages 13-25, is one of the groups that will be featured in Sextravaganza ’08, a week-long series of events at Oregon State University that aims to arm students and community members with information about their sexual health.

Events on campus this week include workshops on healthy romantic relationships, abstinence, body image and the history of sexuality. There will also be a question and answer period with OSU professor Kathy Greaves, often referred to as “Dr. Sex” for her popular columns in The Daily Barometer, the campus newspaper.

More light-hearted events include a “gender bears” workshop at 4 p.m. on Friday at the campus Pride Center where participants can decorate their own gingerbread creations and discuss gender identity and a “sexual spelling bee” at Arnold Dining Hall on Friday where participants will try their best to correctly spell sexually-related words and concepts.

Several of the events will have information booths giving information on programs such as the Family Planning Project, which provides family planning appointments and contraceptives for those who qualify based on citizenship and economic need.

OSU Student Health Services, has kept contraceptive prices down for students enrolled in the program despite a quirk in new federal law, designed to save taxpayers on Medicaid reimbursements for drugs, that effectively stopped pharmaceutical companies from giving university health centers a discount for the drugs.

“It was one of those unintentional things that took away nominal prices,” said George Voss, an administrative services manager at OSU Student Health Services, who explained that OSU’s program has been able to absorb the difference in price so far.

“We’re breaking even right now,” said Voss. “We have to keep watching all the time to make sure that it isn’t costing the rest of the health center to keep it going.”

Approximately 1,250 students are enrolled in the Family Planning Project at OSU, according to Voss.

There are bills in the works in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate that would reverse the deficit-reduction bill of 2005 and return discounted prices to college campuses.

“We’re hopeful that it will pass,” said Voss.

Other sponsors of Sextravaganza ’08 include OSU Student Health Services Health Promotion Department, Peer Health Advocates, Every 1, OSU Pride Center, University of Housing and Dining Services, OSU Counseling and Psychological Services and the Benton County Health Department.

• Sextravaganza ’08 schedule of events: http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/sextravaganza

• M.A.R.S. Program: www.askmars.org

• Family Planning Project — OSU: http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/clinics/family-planning.php

• Pride Center: http://oregonstate.edu/pridecenter