Student Health, SGA, PSEPP host programs

UTM’s Student Health and Counseling Center and SGA hosted a responsible sexual awareness day titled “Wrap it up UTM”.  

It was held on Tuesday, April 10, in the UC.  This is the first time the Student Health and Counseling Center and SGA have hosted a sexual awareness day on Campus.  

Students wereable to learn about the different issues related to sexual responsibility and safe sex.  Events were held here that gave faculty and students the opportunity to participate in interactive activities, sex trivia, and sexual transmitted disease (STD) testing.  

Speakers gave presentations and short talks throughout the day on a variety of topics, including STDs, cultural diversity and sex, and male and female issues on sex. Sexual assault was also discussed. Several prizes were given to participants including a gas card and a Kindle Nook, which was donated by the UTM bookstore.  Participants also received T-shirts and water bottles, which were donated by the Personal Safety Empowerment Program Project (PSEPP).

“Sexual awareness and sexual responsibility are essential elements to a person’s well being. When you make a decision to act in an irresponsible way, you can cause negative consequences for yourself and for many others.  Some of these consequences, such as pregnancy and viral STDs, will have lifelong implications”, said Shannon Deal, Student Health and Counseling Services director and nurse practitioner.

For more information students can visit the Student Health web site or go by the office.

The Personal Safety Empowerment Partnership Program (PSEPP) will host activities in April in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

On April 19 at 6:30 p.m in 206 UC, a program will be held titled, “PSEPP and You.” PSEPP will also be involved in the honor’s program at 7 p.m. April 23 in Watkins Auditorium.

“PSEPP is responsible for raising campus awareness on issues such as dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DDVSAS).

More importantly, PSEPP brings together representatives that make up the PSEPP Coalition Team. This team is composed of UT Martin faculty and staff, health care professionals, a court advocate from the legal system, and law enforcement personnel. The coalition helps to communicate more effective ways to prevent DDVSAS from occurring and a list of services is provided not only to victims/survivors on campus but within the Weakley County community.

It is through campus activities that PSEPP strives to educate, empower and enlighten the lives of survivors and advocates, so that they will work together to help end DDVSAS,” said Natalie Boyd, PSEPP program coordinator.

“The focus of PSEPP involves issues that make many of us uncomfortable, and that is why coordinating activities in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month is so important -- to raise awareness among students to make them aware of the many factors/culprits that may contribute to sexual assault occurring and the resources that are available to victims of DDVSAS on the UT Martin campus and within the community.”

For more information, call 731-881-7869.