Spring Break
UGA in top 10 for sexual health
University No. 2 in SEC
BRITTANY COFER
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: News
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Trojan released its annual "Sexual Health Report Card" Friday, and the University moved from ninth place in 2008 to sixth place this year, besting all other schools in the SEC except the University of South Carolina, which ranked No. 1.
"It's always a compilation of a whole lot of things, a whole lot of people, and generally it's the collaboration and the student voice that makes a difference in these rankings," said Katy Janousek, sexual health coordinator for the University's Health Center, in an interview Monday.
The Sexual Health Report Card is compiled by independent research firm Sperling's BestPlaces, which analyzes data from 141 colleges and universities. The firm examines health centers and student opinion polls across 13 categories - including contraceptive and condom availability, HIV testing and student peer groups.
Janousek said an independent student organization called Sexual Health Helpers at UGA, or SHHUGA, now serves as the connection between University faculty and students.
"A lot of health education is totally lost if you're not relevant, so it's really important to have student involvement - a student perspective," she said.
UNIVERSITY SEXUAL HEALTH RANKINGS
• University of SouthCarolina, No. 1
• University of Georgia,
No. 6
• University of Florida,
No. 24
• Mississippi State
University, No. 32
• University of Kentucky,
No. 38
• University of Alabama,
No. 41
• University of Mississippi, No. 65
• Georgia Tech, No. 87
• University of Tennessee, No. 100
• University of Arkansas, No. 101
• Vanderbilt University,
No. 112
• Auburn University, No. 119
Janousek said she tells students being sexually active is a personal choice that should align with their personal beliefs and values, and students should communicate those beliefs and values with their partner.
