The Office of Health Promotion (OHP), in collaboration with the OHP peer educator team, various student organizations, University offices and departments, and community partners, is hosting “Frisky February,” Syracuse University’s Sexual Health Awareness Month. Throughout February, members of the University community can attend events, dialogue series and performances focused on raising awareness surrounding different sexual health topics.
Frisky February starts today with the Sexual Health Resource Fair hosted by the Student Association in the Schine Student Center atrium 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. On- and off-campus sexual health resources will be at the fair handing out information and sexual health supplies, and offer chances to win prizes.
Emily Nagoski speaks at TED2018 – The Age of Amazement, April 10 – 14, 2018, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED
This year, Frisky February brings exciting new programs, in addition to popular favorites. New this year, Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., gives her keynote lecture, “5 (Dirty, Little) Secrets from the Science of Sex,” on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Maxwell Auditorium. Nagoski is the award-winning author of New York Time bestseller “Come As You Are” and has spent her career as a sex educator.
Continuing from previous years, Consent and Cookies Dialogue Series begins Feb. 8, an Aphrodisiac Cooking Demonstration is Feb. 27, and a student-production of “The Vagina Monologues” is happening Feb. 15 and 16. For each Frisky February event students attend, they will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a Frisky February themed prize from OHP. Full details are available on the Frisky February webpage.
“We are excited to be hosting Frisky February for the third year in a row,” says Michelle Goode, health promotion specialist in OHP focused on sexuality and relationship violence prevention. “Throughout the month we hope to highlight the importance of healthy relationships, consent, exploring pleasure and every person’s right to their own body. Sexuality is a healthy and normal part of our lives, and it is important to empower people to learn more about healthy sexuality and discover what that means for them.”
In addition to the events and activities, OHP, Health Services and Student Association are partnering with Get Yourself Tested—a national campaign to encourage young people to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI)—to offer two days of free and confidential STI screenings to students. STI screening days are Feb. 14 and 15 and offered on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. in OHP, 804 University Ave., Suite 114.
Other on-campus Frisky February partners include the Slutzker Center for International Services. The Slutzker Center’s dialogue series, Mix It Up, will focus on relationships and sexual health for the month of February. Mix It Up brings together University community members for open discussion over dinner to further inclusion and intercultural understanding on campus.
Additionally, Safer Sex Express, a resource for students to order free sexual health supplies has several Frisky February promotions. For example, every Safer Sex Express order using the promo code CUPID will receive a special Valentine’s Day themed prize. Students who live on-campus can have their Safer Sex Express order confidentially delivered for free. Students living off campus will have their order discretely packaged and available to pick up privately at OHP.
For a complete list of programs and events, or to view more information, visit the Office of Health Promotion website.
