By Andy Gutierrez & Allison Maass
Murphy News Service

A weeklong campaign to promote sexual health awareness and education throughout campus kicked off today by SHADE, a student-run group at the University of Minnesota.

Safer Sex Week is part of the Boynton Health Services-based campus life program. Students can take part in a variety of activities aimed at fostering sexual education. The group’s acronym stands for Sexual Health Awareness and Disease Education.

SHADE’s  awareness campaign comes days after research from the University of Minnesota uncovered a 16-percent increase in HIV trends from communities that use Craigslist personals.

The study showed that more than 6,000 HIV cases nationwide were attributed to the use of Craigslist annually, the University of Minnesota Discover website reports.

“Our study results suggest that there is a new social route of HIV transmission that is taking place in this digital era,” Jason Chan, assistant professor of information and decision sciences at the University, said.

With those statistics in mind, 20-year-old Becky Boudreau said she believes Safer Sex week will strengthen the campus community and provide students with insight that other social mediums do not.

Boudreau, a second year S.H.A.D.E. volunteer and hall representative, said she wants  to debunk sexual misinformation across campus to empower students to make the right choices.

“Communication and education, I think, are two of the biggest points that will decrease HIV/AIDS,” Boudreau said. “This week means so much to me because we can reach such a high proportional level of students than we usually don’t get a chance to come across and provide that open space to begin the conversation.”

SHADE’s efforts are year-round and go beyond the sexual health trivia they’ll share with the U community over the next week,  but its Safer Sex campaign is one of the most important to the group.

“Thursday we’re going to have the Minnesota Aids Project come and engage the community,”  Paige Nelson, a SHADE coordinator and student at the U, said.

“It’s the first time we’re doing this here and we’re assembling safer sex kits for them,” Nelson said. “It’s not only helping the U community, but the Minneapolis community in general.”

Nelson said SHADE  has taken measures to offset the stigma behind testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV screening in particular, with its confidential peer HIV testing capabilities.

Anna Revolinski, the longest-standing member and coordinator of the club, said she thinks the group’s future and growing role on campus of looks bright.

“Even just being there for someone in a way that makes them comfortable, that’s what SHADE is about,” Revolinski said. “It’s so cool, kind of creating this culture of sex positivity.”

SHADE hosts Safer Sex Week every year the week before Valentine’s Day to spread awareness about safer sex options on campus, said Kathryn Luk, a SHADE coordinator, said.

Luk joined SHADE because she wanted to be a sexual health resource for her friends and peers at the university.

Kate Elwell, SHADE advisor, said the goal of Safer Sex Week is also to make students aware of safer sex resources available on campus, issues concerning safer sex, and to have a good time.

These university resources include SHADE, the Boynton Clinic and the Aurora Center.

“We really want to spread information and not just supplies,” Luk said.

>> Week highlights 

— Galactic Bowling for Condoms will start off the week at 7 p.m. on Monday in Coffman, and it will end with Confidential Peer HIV Testing on Friday morning at Boynton Health Service.

— Sexual Health Trivia Night, the Sexual Health Fair and sexual health movie night featuring “The Sessions” are all events that will also be taking place for Safer Sex Week.

— Students who attend three or more Safer Sex Week events and receive a stamp on their Sky Map will win an assortment of 25 specialty condoms. Sky Maps can be found in the SHADE office located in Boynton or at any Safer Sex Week events, Elwell said.

— SHADE will also have an information table set up in Coffman every day this week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for students to receive free safer sex supplies and information about sexual health.

— The first student to find a white envelope around campus containing a gold condom will win 25 specialty condoms and a $25 gift card to the University of Minnesota Bookstore. Every day a new clue will be released on the SHADE Facebook page and in the Minnesota Daily.

Reporters Andy Gutierrez and Allison Maass are studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.