Syracuse University has received a grade point average of 2.61 in the sex department.

In its fourth annual Sexual Health Report Card, Trojan Brand Condoms ranked 141 different universities and colleges based on the access and availability of sexual health information and resources at their student health centers.

SU came in at 76, a major drop from last year’s ranking at 19.

To calculate the rankings and GPA of each school, the survey measured 13 categories. SU received a D for ‘Student Opinion of the Health Center.’ Last year SU received a B in this category.

Bert Sperling, president and founder of Sperling’s BestPlaces, the firm that conducts Trojan’s study, said a major reason for SU’s drop in rankings was the student feedback.

‘It might be that a new group of students didn’t know as much about the student health center, or maybe people had negative experiences, or they just are unaware of the services that the student health center is offering,’ Sperling said.

The student opinion polls were available on Facebook, Sperling said. They targeted each university individually and advertised the five-question poll by asking students to respond to a survey of sexual health issues. The survey asked questions like, ‘Would you consider contacting the student health center for sexual health issues?’ and ‘Do you feel the student health center has complete sexual health services?’ Sperling said.

Other methods used to develop the rankings included mailing surveys to the student health centers, and calling them to learn about the services they offer. Also, a team of BestPlaces employees evaluates health center’s Web sites, determining usability and available information.

‘We have a team of our employees look at the different Web sites for all 141 colleges, with the notion that we’re putting ourselves in the position of a student,’ Sperling said, ‘Namely, how would a student get information about sexual health and awareness questions? And how would they find the resources for the student health center?’

The other categories used to compile each GPA included testing of sexually transmitted infections at the health centers, availability of patient drop-in appointments, existence of outreach programs and student peer groups, hours of operation, contraceptive availability and cost and condom availability.

SU’s Health Services declined to comment for this article.

Brianna Garcia, president of SU’s Students Advancing Sexual Safety and Empowerment (SASSE), said the university’s ranking is alarming. She said she doesn’t understand the extreme drop.

She noted that condoms are made readily available by SU’s Health Services, but that students may not know about the sexual health resources available to them, or are reluctant to seek them out. She thinks it’s problematic that students don’t take advantage of SU’s resources.

‘People are embarrassed by their sexuality, and they maybe don’t want to seek out help from an adult because they’re ashamed of the things that they do,’ Garcia said. ‘But I don’t think that sex is anything to be ashamed of.’

SASSE just held an event called ‘Condom Fairies,’ in which members went out on Halloween and distributed condoms to people. The health center was very easy to work with in providing the condoms, Garcia said.

Trojan also recently selected SU to be a ‘safe site’ and will deliver 500 condoms to be distributed throughout the year, Garcia said.

But to raise its ranking next year, SU needs more than condoms.

‘I do think that the services are effective, but they could certainly be improved,’ Garcia said.

Bruce Tetreault, the group project manager for Trojan Brand Condoms, said that advocating for change is Trojan’s goal.

‘It is our hope that these findings will empower students to advocate for change to ensure sexual health resources and information, including condoms, are consistently and universally available,’ Tetreault said in a press release.

The Trojan Brand Condoms study is a good catalyst for open discussion about the importance of sexual health awareness and services, Sperling said.

‘It’s really to spur a dialogue,’ Sperling said. ‘It’s a really good tool for the students to use to compare how their schools compare with other schools across the nation. This is the only independent study of its kind. And it’s also great for the student health centers, to compare themselves against other schools and see how they’re doing.’

The University of South Carolina ranks first in this year’s report card, moving up from its No. 8 ranking last year. DePaul University ranks last at No. 141.

But the survey has the potential to produce positive results for the schools near the end of the list, Sperling said.

‘What’s exciting with the study, too, is that in some schools, like DePaul University, the students are using this a catalyst to institute change, trying to urge their administration to provide more information and services to them,’ Sperling said.

mequalte@syr.edu

Published on November 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm