Albany- The United States has one of the highest rates of Sexually transmitted diseases in the industrialized world.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 15.3 million new cases of STDs are reported each year, many of them teens and young adults. Tuesday Darton students kicked off a campaign to try and reverse those growing numbers.
Sex, food, and Rock 'n Roll. It's not the title of the latest biography by an entertainer, it's a campaign aimed at getting the attention of students at Darton College.
"Basically we're just promoting STD, HIV, unplanned pregnancy awareness," says program coordinator Cory Peek. "All the bands, all the food, all the equipment, everything has been donated. We're not making anything off of this. It's just about getting the message out."
Coeds enjoyed a free concert, free food, and free life-saving information.
"We've got fliers out with facts about Georgia and the surrounding counties. At least one in every three teens here has an STD, so that's pretty alarming if you look around at the person next to you and you think one out of three," says Peek.
"We're all affected by this plague and people just need to be aware of it," adds student government president Bobby Lee Miles.
Students had a chance to listen to bands throughout the day, making it one of the most interesting deliveries of sex education they say they've ever heard.
"You know in high school they just sat us all down in a classroom. We had sex education classes where it's more textbook," says freshman David Ranew. "I think the music is a great way to get people out to hear about STD's and things like that."
Despite warnings about unprotected sex, Darton students say they and those they know are increasingly being touched by its effects.
"I think everybody has in some way or another. If it's not STDs it's pregnancy. It is a big issue among people our age," says senior Tracy Davis.
"I think we need more things like this because people are so deaf to hearing things. People hear it, but they don't listen there's a big difference in that," says Peek.
But with the help of local bands, coordinators are hoping to get their peers to finally hear the music and listen to the message.
The Sex, Food, and Rock 'n Roll program will continue until 9:30 PM Tuesday. There will be free food and entertainment throughout the evening.
Posted at 5:10 PM by elaine.armstrong@walb.com
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