"Cucumbers, Condoms and Free Testing"

When the familiar beat of Salt 'N Pepa's "Let's Talk About Sex" filled the Student Union, it could only mean one thing - Sex Week at UB.

Sexual Health Week, which took place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, was organized by the UB/Buffalo Wellness Coalition, which is comprised of a number of local wellness groups, many affiliated with UB.

Issues involving sex need to be discussed more on campus, according to Justine Tutuska, chair of the coalition.

"Sexuality isn't talked about nearly enough, and this is an opportunity to make it available to students," said Tutuska.

According to Tutuska, after the coalition held their first Sex Week last spring, they decided to have one every semester.

"Sex Week is here to raise awareness to students on and off campus, pertaining to their sexual needs and lives," said Tom Neill, a social worker for UB's Counseling Center. "We are a free service open to students for counseling towards any type of problems."

According to Neill, the center provides support for students experiencing issues with depression, sexual identity and sexual preference, among other problems.

Last Wednesday the coalition held a Sexual Health Fair in the Student Union. Keith Palm of WRUB, a junior Spanish major, was the DJ for the fair.

"I feel it's extremely important for people to better their sex lives and stay safe while doing it, now and in the future," Palm said.

One of the most popular attractions at the fair was AIDS Community Services. This year, Project Reach, a part of AIDS Community Services, offered free HIV testing.

According to Averl Anderson-Jones, an outreach worker with AIDS Community Services, more than 10 people were tested during the fair.

"Our table has been bombarded," said Anderson-Jones.

Besides offering information on HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the group also gave away free condoms, some flavored and colored, and a variety of lubricants.

Kara Hite, a senior marketing major, and Eileen Marutiak, junior communication and Spanish major, manned a table for Planned Parenthood.

"We're here to offer students information about reproduction and health. We supplement the wonderful services on campus," Hite said.

Hite, a Planned Parenthood employee for over two years, was also involved in Sex Week last year, and said the turnout both years was not as large as they had hoped.

Planned Parenthood is one of four Western New York wellness groups who were part of the organizing coalition for Sex Week. The Erie County Department of Health, the Urban Services Center and Project Reach were also involved.

Laughter and hyperactive giggles filled the Student Union Theater at midnight Friday as students prepared for the screening of a pornographic film made in 1972.

As part of what has become a UB tradition, SA presented "Behind the Green Door," as this year's pornographic film as the final event of Sex Week.

Ben Becher, a junior majoring in electrical and computer engineering, said the film was less than appealing.

"Saying that this movie was a porno would suggest that it was somehow sexually appealing," he said. "In reality this movie was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen."

Zack Harkin, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said he appreciates that UB offers a Sexual Health Week.

"It's good to get knowledge around about health and sex," he said.

The Wellness Center distributed condoms, pamphlets and surveys, and held a relay race to see who could put a condom on a cucumber and take it off again with the greatest speed and precision.

"We are promoting safe sex education practices, and a fun way of learning about sex," said Shayla Benson, a graduate assistant for the wellness center.

The Student Health Center's table, manned by Deborah Burone, a physicians' assistant to the student health center, was filled with models of breasts and testicles.

"We want students to become more aware of diseases, especially young college males who are more at risk for testicular cancer," said Burone.

Besides the fair, other sex week events included the Life and Learning Workshops seminar, "Let's Talk About Sex," and an emergency contraception workshop.

Eric Jean Marie, a freshman accounting major, said he enjoyed Sex Week but did have one problem.

"Why is sex only a week? It should be a whole year," he said.

~Additional reporting by Rachel Mallah