Sexual-health study critical of Utah colleges

Although several Utah universities are doing a better job at promoting sexual health, a report card by condom manufacturer Trojan says, they still aren't making A's or B's but barely C's and some D's.

According to the study, made public Monday, the University of Utah, Utah State University and Brigham Young University don't provide students with enough access to information and resources that would promote a healthy sexual lifestyle.

Last year, BYU came in at the bottom of a list of 100 schools nationwide. In this, the second year that Trojan has conducted the study, the Provo-based university has climbed from having straight F's to getting high D's and ranking 121st of 139 schools probed. According to the survey, the increase is good for a school that requires abstinence before marriage, but officials at the school say the rankings are skewed due to the Honor Code in place at BYU.

"We ask our students to be living a chaste and virtuous life," said BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins. "There's not much need (to promote safe sex) because students come to BYU already abiding by the Honor Code and choosing to live this way."

She said the school placed better than last year because this survey considered the many self-defense and preventive courses offered at BYU, which she said helps students stave off sexual predators and unwanted sexual activity. But Jenkins said for the most part, students at BYU "don't have a problem with it."

The U. also moved up on the grade scale, placing 76th instead of 98th as it did last year. However, it still isn't up to par, according to Trojan.

Most of the judging criteria are based on what's available to students via a school-hosted Web site, but the survey also looks at available awareness programs, contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections and diseases, outreach and peer groups as well as other outlets for discussion on campus and anonymous advice.

In its first year of being surveyed, USU ranked 84th on the list. The ranking came as a "shock" to campus spokesman Tim Vitale, who said, "We are very aggressive about putting information out there."

"We are somewhat guilty of looking past the problem, but we are certainly not blind to it," said Dr. Jim Davis, director of student health at USU, who would give the Logan school a better grade. He said condoms and sex education are made available to students who want them, but overall, more than 82 percent of the campus is not sexually active, and he said resources are better spent on topics such as exercise, diet and safety.