page 5
STD from page 1
consequences and emotional
attachments involved.” Also,
Wintermyer feels that
abstinence has a “horrible
failure rate.”
The risk of being infected with
a Sexually Transmitted Disease
is high. According to the
Resource Center for Adolescent
Pregnancy Prevention
(RECAPP) “college students
are more sexually active today
and using less contraception
than the early 1990's.” A survey
released in February by the
University of North Carolina
states that “one in two sexually
active college-age students will
contract a sexually transmitted
disease by age 25.”
According to the Center for
Disease Control (CDC)
National Prevention
Information Network, the U.S.
has “the highest rates of STDs
in the industrialized world.”
Although the infection rate of
gonorrhea and syphilis have
recently been brought to historic
lows, you are still 50-100 times
more likely to be infected with
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an STD in the U.S. than in
other industrialized nation. In
the U.S alone, an estimated
15.3 million new cases of
STDs are reported each year.
The Pennsylvania
Department of Health 2005
report on Syphilis, Chlamydia,
and Gonorrhea shows that
there were over 50,000 reported
new cases: 118 with Syphilis,
38,025 with Chlamydia, and
11,236 with Gonorrhea. In
2004, Franklin County
reported over 320 cases: 263
being Chlamydia and 55 being
Gonorrhea. These numbers
continue to soar with the lack
of safe sex.
Cathy McAfee, a Mont
Alto campus nurse and Penn
State Alumna, provides
“necessary services” for the
students. These services consist
of testing for sexually
transmitted diseases as well.
She is also open and willing to
offer any education or
assistance regarding
contraception.
Hello all! I am writing this
article on behalf of your Student
Government Association at
Mont Alto (S.G.A. M.A.). Let me
first introduce myself and the
other members that represent
you. My name is Beth Herbert
(blh5014) and I am the
Communication Coordinator;
other members are President,
Darci Newhouse (den129), Vice
President, Nolan Fontaine
(nlf135), Freshmen
Representative, Bella Perez
(bep139), Campus Activities and
Multicultural Programs
(C.A.M.P.) Chair, Jessica
Smythe (jms939), Treasurer,
Scott Vinck (sjv144),
Information Technology
Representative, Ben Orr
(bto112), Advisor, Andrea
Christopher (axc8).
We feel it is important that
all students understand the role
of S.GA. The Mont Alto S.G.A.
Constitution states in Article I,
Section 2, 2.1-2.4,
“The purpose of the
Student Government
Association will be: To
represent the interests
of students and to
giniic ou rage
communication
between the student
body, administration,
staff, and faculty; To
encourage extra-
curricular activities;
To support clubs and
organizations; To
represent Penn State
Mont Alto in the
Council of
Commonwealth
Student Governments
at University Park.”
Let me inform you
about some of the
many issues that
S.G.A. has been
tackling. Returning
students have probably
noticed the addition of
two new “Blue Light
Call Boxes,” one by th
commuter parking lot
and the other by Mont Alto Hall’s
parking lot. These are an added
security measure which give you
a direct call line to police services
in case of an emergency. We are
currently trying to add a third blue
light to be installed close to the
Penn Gate Complex.
Another issue that we are
addressing is the general
consensus among students that
smoking outside of the residence
Halls is becoming problematic.
Smoke is drifting into residents’
bedrooms and for many, this is a
health concern. An interesting
fact that we recently learned
about this issue is that it is not
just a Mont Alto issue, but also a
problem of other Big Ten
Schools. So we are working with
others to find a solution that
meets the needs of all students
and makes the campus
The Mont Alto S.G.A. has
brought these and other issues
to the attention of all Penn State
Commonwealth Campuses
(which are also facing similar
problems). Once a month, all
Commonwealth Campuses send
S.G.A. members to University
Park for the Council of
Commonwealth Student
Governments (C.C.S.G.)
C.C.S.G. helps students network
with other campuses which are
facing similar problems and
brainstorm for answers. One of
the hot topics at the last C.C.S.G.
was the tuition freeze President
Spanier is considering. Dr.
Spanier attended the C.C.S.G.
meeting and discussed his tuition
freeze program, which generally
states that for one year, all
Commonwealth locations will
see no increase or decrease in
tuition.
I would also like to mention
S.G.A.’s budget. The Student
Government has
money for you—
the students (clubs
and organizations)!
If you need funds
to sponsor an
event, please do not
hesitate to submit a
proposal which
you can pick up in
the S.G.A. office or
next to Campus
Life in Conklin.
The Mont Alto
Student
Government
Association is here
to enhance your
Penn State
experience. Have
an idea? Want to sit
in on a meeting?
Please feel free to
contact any
member of S.G.A.
or stop by our
office—1* floor in
Wiestling.