Student survey results paint dubious picture

Editorial

A survey University of North Florida students recently completed detailing sexual behavior and other health issues as part of the campuswide "Healthy Campus: 2010" program yielded results that seem too bad to be true.

The most shocking numbers reported were in the "anal sex: no condom" category: 82 percent of athletes, 83 percent of the student body, and 70 percent of Greeks admitted to have participated in unprotected anal sex in the survey recently conducted by the Health Promotions department and the Campus Alcohol and Drug Information Center.

If these numbers are true, this means roughly eight out of 10 members of every student club, organization and group of friends are not only practicing anal sex, but practicing it without protection. These percentages convey a message that most college students at UNF practice anal sex, and they do so unsafely.

In the "vaginal sex: no condom" category, the numbers are lower, with 45 percent of athletes, 50 percent of Greeks, and 64 percent of the student body participating. Comparing these numbers with the anal sex numbers conveys more students prefer anal to vaginal sex and most of them are unsafe about it.

Most students would agree these numbers are bogus. Although it's uncertain what people do behind closed doors, it's general knowledge that most people prefer vaginal over anal sex.

It's not something people usually talk about, but it's pretty unbelievable these percentages are accurate. And if the students aren't practicing the intercourse specified in the statistics, then it's a moot point whether they're protecting themselves.

The conductors of the survey were unable to report how many students completed it, which means they probably didn't sit all the Greeks and athletes down and separate the results. There was most likely a checklist that asked the student to specify whether they were a Greek or athlete.

Furthermore, it is unsure whether students who are both Greeks and athletes were represented three times, with an additional time as a member of the student body. It is unclear whether 150 students filled out the survey, 25 of them being male student athletes and 50 of them being female Greeks, or any other broken down number, because the numbers aren't available for report.

Out of more than 15,000 students attending the university, the results could be grossly inaccurate.

The 83 percent allotted to the student body practicing unprotected anal sex is most likely referring to a percentage of an unknown percentage of students participating in actual intercourse. This could mean out of 400 students who have ever had anal sex, 300 of them tried it without protection.

The same can be inferred from the "vaginal sex: no condom," category, the supposed 30 percent of athletes at UNF who considered suicide and the supposed 70 percent of Greeks who binge drank within the two weeks before the survey.

It is important to report student health statistics, so issues that need to be addressed will be brought to administrators' attention, but it is more important to be careful when surveying students and reporting results.

If survey conductors cannot attempt to survey all the athletes and Greeks and all the student body, it is not fair to post a percentage that includes all students and members from those organizations. And when asking questions, it is crucial to separate those who practice a particular kind of sex with those who practice it without protection.

Question types, ways of asking questions, randomization, and numerous other factors go into compiling an effective survey, and that's what conductors need to work on if they want to produce accurate results.

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Stow the files, share the wealth, stay out of trouble

Editorial

Imagine, if you would, a scenario: Your all-time favorite musical artist shows up on your doorstep one sunny summer day, fresh from touring the country in support of his or her new album.

You, of course, have already downloaded the whole thing from LimeWire or some other file-sharing program and listened to it a thousand times, so you're perfectly prepared to discuss each song with the depth and attention to subtlety you think it deserves. You invite the artist into your living room, get him or her an Evian or whatever else those Hollywood types are drinking these days, and prepare to share some personal insights you've had into the newest array of songs.

The artist stops you before you begin. He or she leans in, earnestly, and asks you in a tone just above a whisper: "So how many of my albums have you bought?"

Your gut reaction is excitement. You know all the albums by heart. As you open your mouth to respond, though, you falter. You think to yourself: How many albums have I bought? The answer makes itself immediately apparent, but you gloss over it, hoping perhaps one has escaped your memory that you could talk about.

Your artist understands. Without saying a word beyond thanking you for the drink, he or she stands and walks out the door.

What's just transpired is an encounter between you, a self-professed diehard fan, and the artist you've never once supported. If everyone one of your artist's fans was as supportive as you, he or she'd be out of a job.

But there are some signs of change on the horizon. The seemingly impregnable juggernaut of illegal online file-sharing has faced some opposition lately from legal alternatives, of all things. Ruckus, for example, is a vast online archive of music that can be quickly, easily and freely downloaded to your computer so long as you're a student at a member university. The University of North Florida is one such university - it's been so popular among Ospreys, in fact, that the powers that be at Ruckus will be rolling the program out to several other state universities in the coming years. Ruckus just enjoyed its one-millionth download by UNF students and is still going strong.

If you call yourself a fan, keep your artists going by acquiring their music through legal means, which are supported by fees, subscriptions, advertising or other means, and which ultimately means you'll have yourself to thank the next time you turn on the radio and find some new toe- tappin' jingle.

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ACE it this summer with free on-campus tutoring services

Faculty Opinion

By Michelle Boyette
TUTOR COORDINATOR AT ACE

It's hard to sit inside and study all day long when sunshine and blue skies are calling, and from the college classroom you can see that perfect day at the beach beckoning to you. Tests and assignments will still be there when you shake the beach sand out of your swimsuit - but a short investment of your time at the University of North Florida Academic Center for Excellence can make your summer a successful one. We offer summer students tutoring in a variety of subjects, workshops on a variety of academic life skills, and advising for freshmen and sophomores.

If statistics has you in a slump or fractions leave you feeling fractured, come see the ACE tutors. We have tutoring in a variety of math subject areas this summer: pre-calculus, calculus I, II, & III; ordinary differential equations, algebra, and trigonometry; finite math, explorations in math and math for teachers, and of course, statistics.

Just can't get kingdom, phyla and family straight? Do you need to convert grams to moles? There are tutors who can help you understand concepts from biology class, as well as from chemistry I & II, organic chemistry and physics. Having core troubles? French or Spanish giving you difficulty? We have tutors for those subjects, as well as for psychology, philosophy and accounting.

That paper isn't going to write itself. The ACE writing tutors can help you, whatever subject your assignment is in. From English to nursing to education to business and beyond, the tutors can guide you in becoming a better writer. They'll read through your work with you and discuss how you can improve your writing, because the ACE ideal is to help you become an independent learner. If you want to, you can make a half-hour appointment with a writing tutor at the ACE, so you can plan your day for a tutoring session and still have time for the beach!

Maybe you just feel you need better tools to get through college in general. Our study skills workshops cover topics from time management to test-taking tips. In only 90 minutes you can acquire the tools and tips you need to succeed in your studies this summer - and in life! We also offer College-level Academic Skills Test [CLAST] reviews for those who need to prepare for the test.

Summer will be over before you know it and the fall semester will have arrived. ACE advisers are available to help freshman and sophomores choose majors that will best fit their life goals and determine the courses needed to meet those goals and fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.

Generally advising and tutoring are on a walk-in basis only, but you can also make writing tutoring appointments. Study skills and CLAST workshops require you to sign up online.

For a complete schedule of tutoring and study skills workshops, or just to find out more about us, go to our Web site at www.unf.edu/es/ace. To register for a workshop or a writing tutoring appointment, click on the Tutor Trac link. For more information, call 620-2766 or 620-1012.

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Don't discount the tedious lessons in college life

Alumni Opinion

By Emily Bruce
ALUMNA, COMMUNICATIONS

Life after graduation is something every college student dreams (or in some cases, has nightmares) about. The end of tests and papers is appealing, but losing the freedom to schedule your own days is unpleasant. Finding a job is a job itself. And paying off those loans seems impossible. Know you aren't alone in these suddenly overwhelming realizations.

I graduated from the University of North Florida in May with my Bachelor of Science in Communication on the Journalism track. Though I have only been removed from college for a little more than two months, I've already learned a great deal about post-college life and I find myself applying what I learned in college to my life now.

I thoroughly enjoyed earning my Communications degree from UNF. My professors gave me opportunities to go outside of the UNF bubble to write stories, and they didn't shy away from making me and my classmates fully responsible for our own grades. Like the real world, deadlines were strongly enforced and we were held accountable for our performance each day. I am thankful for the chance to have had so much responsibility throughout my time as a college student, and I've been able to carry those expectations into the work world.

When I entered my last semester, I was hit hard with the realization that I needed a job and I needed one soon. I soon discovered most entry-level positions in the communications field will offer $23,000 to $30,000 a year, which varies by a number of factors such as location, experience and field. If you're offered an interview and aren't interested in the job, go anyway. You will gain valuable experience and maybe the person or people who interview you will keep you in mind for another position. Networking is vital. It's not just who you know, it's also who knows you. Several professors reiterated this to me throughout my time at UNF, and they were right.

Though I miss the freedom of hanging out with friends at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday and sleeping in several days a week, I am happily transitioning into the work world. I enjoy having a set schedule and earning "real money." After balancing school, a full-time job, a part-time job and an internship, it's wonderful to only have work to concentrate on. As far as maintaining a social life goes, it takes extra effort to keep in touch with friends still in college. Their schedules and priorities are different from mine, but it's easy to keep those friendships alive because I value them. Having a balance between work and fun is so important.

Lastly, be patient. I began job hunting in February, knowing it would take awhile. I was lucky enough to land a job the Monday before I graduated from UNF. It made graduation much more enjoyable. I use my degree on a daily basis by conducting interviews and writing, editing and laying out stories. I find myself recalling lessons I learned in college, and I'm glad I paid attention then because it's paying off now.

College gave me four years to learn about myself, grow up and figure out how I fit into this world. I'm still learning everyday, but the experience, growing pains and knowledge I gained at UNF have proved to be invaluable as I transition into young adulthood.

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Outdoor smoking regulations will be a benefit for most

Staff Opinion

By Jenne Strom
DISCOURSE EDITOR

After spending a day in the sun, surrounded by children and families at Busch Gardens Adventure Island theme park, the water wonderland atmosphere became tainted when leaving I saw a group of teenagers blowing clouds of smoke toward tourists.

Theme parks like Disney World and Busch Gardens most closely cater to the younger generation, more specifically to children, with the wave pools and life-sized cartoon characters. But they also cater to smokers by specifying areas throughout the parks where people are permitted to smoke.

However, as the demand to ban outdoor smoking spreads across the nation, the only smoke remaining in summer air will be from barbeques and campfires.

The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation has reported the number of parks, cafes, stadiums and beaches that ban smoking has increased from 30 to in 1999 to 1,124 this year. Additionally, Albuquerque has banned smoking in their zoo and botanical garden, and Davis County, Utah, has banned smoking from amusement parks and pools, according to a report in USA Today.

Secondhand smoke poses serious health risks to those who are exposed to it. More than 60 chemical compounds in tobacco smoke are known or suspected to cause cancer, according to www.cancer.org.

Secondhand smoke is also responsible for 3,400 lung cancer deaths, respiratory problems in nonsmokers, and an increase in middle ear infections in young children. But aside from the deteriorating health affects, it also is a major source of litter. That's why many of the beaches have banned smoking.

Because smoking is legal, smokers should have the right to smoke. But not when it affects other people. Many go to parks to enjoy the smell and sight of nature and have a wide area to enjoy, but when there are cigarette butts lining the ground and clouds of nicotine in the air, nature is lost. Allowing smoking in some areas of amusement parks and outdoor public places does not completely prevent passerbys from being affected.

Furthermore, smokers who are seen smoking by children are not setting a good example for the next generation. When they see teenagers and adults slide off the water rides and run over to the lockers for a smoke, it serves as negative behavior they might pick up in their later years.

If the one in five American adults who smoke could contain their smoking to their homes and backyards, and the street and allies near workplaces, they would better be able to exercise their habits without hurting the health of the four out of five nonsmokers. As a result, the increasing outdoor smoking bans will, as a whole, better serve the health and lifestyles of Americans.

Contact Jenna Strom at discourse@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE