The rate at which students engage in casual sex is far behind if we call it concerning. The best word to describe this is, it is quite alarming. What with the possibility of mass infection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the ever-deadly HIV virus. All this happening under a fierce glare of numerous government and non-governmental organizations including one movement called ‘I choose live’ initiative which is present in nearly all public universities which urge the young people to act responsibly in the sex lives.
Let the naysayers stand and say “but we are all grownups here. We can deal with issues maturely.” maturely of course! Explain for the numerous misunderstandings, which have sometimes led to tragic incidents through jilted cycles of love affairs. We have heard cases of murders and suicides in our campuses. A little more respect for life will be our saving grace here. Mature people, are we still together?
Let grace be there that our eyes may open up for we end up ‘exiling’ our comrades just to enjoy a night with stranger. We disturb two students elsewhere only for six miserable young people in a single instance to wake up the following morning with very red eyes in the benefits of adult suffrage, while in the real sense we cannot lead the way in seeking a voter’s card to participate in a noble way of choosing appropriate leaders for the society. Development indeed!
The whole issue is all about our principles. These are what we stand for while we are in campus. We have many but they actually revolve around three major ones, which would help us sort out issues here. They are the society, which is general; academics, which is the ultimate, and sex the subject of this article.
All these are attainable but there should be a balance and not a conflict of interest. Academics which I have preferred is what really makes us to be in camps because it is what is expected of us to have accomplished at the end of four years in campus.
However, the sex part has overtaken all the rest and it is now a craze that needs to be tackled with in urgency. My roommate in campus had likened the situation with a coin, which travels extensively in one day. It is then used by different large number of people in different parts of the country in that single day. That is , a ten shillings coin may be used to buy ‘mnazi’ at the coast , given as change to someone else who is in a hurry to catch a ‘matatu’ buys a cigarette, the shopkeeper send for supplies , given to ‘matatu’ people and at the end of the day someone is receiving it as change for buying tomatoes in Busia.
That is how he said about someone who engages in casual sex in campus and how HIV and other STIs can be spread within a single night in campus. When it goes on, on daily basis the way it seems then, the stakes keep piling and you are tempted to conclude that few will actually live. This is only possible when only a principled chap survives the bumpy ride that is campus life.
In addition, there is another misguided misconception that there should be a parting shot for a brother who cannot be given that chance to run a regular schedule. What is offered is a sympathetic parting incentive to sooth his nerves? Sisters, if you think sympathizing and not telling the guys that “…. I understand but I can’t do this with you.” Then the cycle will continue. The sympathetic touch of things will make the brother brag about the whole thing. He would say, “The way I went down on my knees, she just fell for my flowing words …” and the burger will use the same lines on one lady after the other and you will all be regretting at his wake. Why don’t we stop this cycle and try something constructive.
In as much as I would prefer to advocate for abstinence as a way for preventing both HIV and STIs infections among unmarried couples; I tend to question whether comrades in the campuses really use the condoms on offer in the campus dispensaries when they engage in their multiple sexual associations.
Whenever HIV infection rates estimates in the local universities are, publicized students go up in arms against the authenticity of these estimates. Maybe, this justifies that they are aware that they have once too many engaged in barbaric mischief that puts them in vulnerable positions that they wish should not be mentioned.
However, University students should come in terms with the fact that they are not only accountable to themselves, their parents and guardians but to the society. They are expected to be the leading role models of other youths being the so called ‘cream of the society’.
How then can they possibly explain their rampageous character where they disregard themselves downgrading themselves to sexual sluts and then claim to be the light and way forward towards achieving the much-needed nationwide youth leaderships?
As youth, we need to re-evaluate ourselves. Be sober and come to our senses. We have to know that we are the ones who can bring in the much-needed positive changes in the society. However, first we have to respect ourselves, take our position and know that we have a role to play or we still have a long way go if the war against HIV/AIDs is to be won.
-Ureport
