Bradley University focuses on peer-based preventative education to lower trend on campus
BY: SAVANNAH T. JONES
PEORIA, ILL.: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports Peoria County has an alarming number of Gonorrhea cases, with a rate of 337.2% compared to the total US median rate of 30.5%. Peoria County is ranked with the highest number of cases compared to the rest of the nation, according to the CDC’s latest nation-wide study. The CDC report showed the largest demographic of those infected with the sexually-transmitted infection range from 18 to 64-years-old in Peoria County with 115,349 cases. Since unprotected sex is the main cause for the the STI’s spread, Peoria’s Bradley University is stepping up to educate on prevention.
18 to 64-year-olds have the highest number of Gonorrhea cases, followed by 18-and-under cases.
Bradley University’s The HEAT (Health, Empower and Teach) is dedicated to educating the campus community on student well-being with an emphasis on sexual health. HEAT Coordinator and Peer Director Denzel Washington explained HEAT’s goal is to inform students with an attitude different from the average high-school health class, instead presenting the facts in an “upfront manner with jokes sprinkled in between.”
“Our job is not centered on preventing sex, rather, we focus on the prevention of unsafe sex. We live in a world where the reality is students are having sex on college campuses,” Washington said. “And while there is certainly nothing wrong with that we’d rather focus on helping keep Bradley Braves safe, than preventing something seemingly unpreventable.”
HEAT also teaches a program for a freshman course on healthy relationships, sexual assault prevention, types of protection and how to get tested for STIs/HIV. The organization has branched out into the Peoria community to combat the area’s high rates of Gonorrhea by partnering with AuderePR, Central Illinois FRIENDS and Headz Up Barbershop to host the “Shape Your City Health Fair” last month. The Health Fair provided educational sessions on sexual health and screenings.
Washington admitted it isn’t an easy task educating college students on a topic such as sex ed because students often assume they know more HEAT members. Sometimes students are embarrassed or shy to speak up on protection and prevention of STIs or feel as if they are being lectured by their peers.
“Each year, we research the most up-to-date statistics on this information and there is continual training of our members throughout their time in HEAT,” Washington said. “Another misconception is that we encourage people to not have sex or to not drink. Again, we assume nothing about the students of Bradley or the people we present to.”
The Bradley University Health Center provides free STI tests and there are several locations throughout Peoria that provide STI testing and treatment as well. Below is an interactive map showing STI testing and sexual health centers around the area:
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