AAI To 'Interpret' Alcohol's Affect On Sex

The Alcohol Abuse Initiative will “interpret” what one couple should be saying to each other and teach students how protecting “your love” could “protect your life" with two events on Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 13-14).

On Monday, a humorous theatrical performance by the Arts Outreach Theater Troupe will focus on the dangers of using alcohol as an icebreaker in social settings with "The Interpreters," at 6 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Ballroom A.

“Students will watch one couple as they experience that awkward moment when they try to speak to someone new,” said Michelle Lovering, chair of the AAI’s proactive prevention committee. “They use alcohol to feel more comfortable with the situation; all the while they have interpreters to convey what they wish they could say to each other.

“The couple will go from, ‘hey, what’s up’ to waking up with regrets in the morning, with many hilarious interpretations in between,” she said.

Following the play, peer educators will lead a discussion about how students can communicate better than the characters in the play did, and a question and answer session with sexual health and alcohol experts will be held for students to ask anything they want.

“The presentation will be followed by an in-depth look at sexually transmitted infections, which of course are just one potential consequence of mixing alcohol and sex,” Lovering said.

The night is co-sponsored by the Student Health Center and the theater and dance department.

On Tuesday (Feb. 14), Rosanne Keathley, assistant professor of health education, will discuss how an estimated 60-80 percent of college students do not know how to correctly use a condom.

“The task is even more complicated with the visual and cognitive impairment caused by alcohol,” Lovering said. “Knowing this, she (Keathley) will walk students through the correct way to apply a condom using props and then ask some students to try this while wearing beer goggles.”

“Protect Your Love, Protect Your Life: Alcohol, Sex and Protection” will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theatre.

“Dr. Keathley will speak about how important it is to either abstain from sexual activity or use condoms consistently and correctly because if you love your partner, you wouldn't want to put their health at risk,” Lovering said. “She will talk about different methods of contraception, particularly the condom and how it is the ‘double duty tool,’ meaning it is the only method that provides protection against both sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.

“The take home message is that mixing alcohol with sexual activity can be a road map to STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and other regrets,” she said.

Both programs are part of the AAI’s Six Weeks of Alcohol Awareness Training.

For more information, call Lovering at mlovering@shsu.edu or 936.294.4347.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 9, 2006
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