Access to healthcare is one thing, but what happens when you can’t even get to the store??

Many college students are bombarded with many different responsibilities on campus such as constantly making superior grades, maintaining leadership positions, and surviving on a college student’s simple lack of financial means. It is often spoken for students not to work while in college, however many students spend precious study time working tiring jobs, because they have to purchase applications, books, rent, tuition, food, etc.

So, how do we access the things we need at an affordable price and within a reasonable amount of time?   Yes, a school nurse is available to students, but life on a private school campus has its limitations.  We cannot be given condoms or any other form of contraception by school staff members.  Emergency Contraception is therefore completely out of the question. 

There are local pharmacies that some students have access to, but for students like me driving is impossible and walking is dangerous.  We need contraceptives on campus.  Students need a safe and reliable place to obtain preventative and emergency contraceptives.  If I ever need either, I’d have no way to get it!! There is a timeframe of 72 hours for optimal use of emergency contraception.  I do not own a car, the local bus system does not come to my school, and there’s no way I’m walking- at least not without someone walking with me.  I still have classes, school work, and an overflowing list of responsibilities I have to complete, or I jeopardized my standing in school and my extracurricular activities.  Obtaining contraceptives should not be difficult.  I shouldn’t have to sacrifice my responsibilities to go long distances just to take care of my basic needs. 

Limited access to contraceptives by policies specifically restricting distributions has placed students in burdensome and hazardous for situations.  I attend a school that cares too much for its students to continue to enforce such senseless regulations.  This is something we need to change together (students, staff, and clergy) so that no student in the future is put in the reckless situation of not having unadulterated access to contraceptives.

In the scheme of things — considering American taxpayers’ preoccupation with the economy, war, a presidential election, and various other distractions — it’s unlikely that a lot of attention will be paid to one Utah family’s personal prosperity over the last twelve years thanks in part to their relationship with Heritage Community Services, Inc. a family-owned abstinence-only-until-marriage business  headquartered near Charleston, South Carolina.  Yet the stories of the savvy entrepreneurs who seized the opportunity to get-rich-quick provided by the rise of an abstinence-only-until-marriage industry continue to fascinate those of us who work in reproductive/sexual health. So meet Stan and Maryanne Weed….

When the Weeds filed the 1998 federal tax return for the Institute for Research & Evaluation, the nonprofit business they had created ten years earlier, they reported net assets of $2,086. The Institute operated out of the Weeds’ three-bedroom home at 6068 S. Jordan Canal Road in Taylorsville, Utah, just outside Salt Lake City and a stone’s throw from Taylorsville’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By 2000, according to their IRS Form 990, they had established a relationship with Focus On The Family, a prominent Christian-right activist organization and an influential proponent of social conservative policy.  That same year, their program service revenues jumped to $254,826 and Stan and Maryanne Weed were paid $153,850. Around the same time, Heritage Community Services hired Stan Weed to document the effectiveness of their own abstinence-only-until-marriage curriculum. According to IRS 990 filings, Heritage paid the Institute a lot of money over a series of years.

Fast forward to 2010, when the Institute for Research & Evaluation reported net assets of $1,067,640. What happened  between 1998 and 2010 to grow their assets by over $1 million is well documented on the Institute’s IRS 990 filings, which are available via Guidestar, www.guidestar.com and other public resources. The short story is that, as more and more federal and state funds — (that is to say, your and my tax dollars) — have been directed toward abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, Stan Weed has built a lucrative business out of his home by being the go-to- guy to “prove” that your homegrown abstinence-only-until-marriage programs work. If you are an abstinence-only vendor, attempting to convince your state government that you deserve another big grant, you absolutely love Stan Weed. His evaluations read like scholarly articles  —  (he earned a PhD at the University of Washington in 1978) — and so one must be willing to lift the veil to understand not only the shared ideologies between Dr. Weed and his customers, but also the symbiotic economic relationships (loads of revenue for both parties).

Why do we care? For starters, Heritage Community Services, Inc. is an aggressive organization that uses evaluations such as the above, as well as other means, to gain entry into South Carolina schools.  The more schools, the more potential revenue. The Charleston school district’s Health Advisory Committee, for example, is barely functional at this writing, due to a relentless campaign to undermine high school-level reproductive health instruction based upon evaluated, medically accurate age-appropriate curricula recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, as adults argue, point fingers and value greed over young peoples’ health, teens in Charleston’s high schools and high schools across the state continue to get pregnant.

If each side would agree to lay down their swords in the best interest of the state’s young people, the greater good, then perhaps we could agree to teach abstinence through middle school, but then teach science-based, comprehensive education in Grades 9-12, the time when more than half of our teens report becoming sexually active. Heritage Community Services and other abstinence-only-until-marriage vendors could maintain their revenue streams, however the quid pro quo would be that high school students finally get a consistently high-quality learning opportunity:  They could actually be taught about birth control and family planning. They would actually know how to prevent pregnancies.

Is this too much to hope for?

By Emily Rogers, a member of the SWARM Youth Council and student at the College of Charleston

My liberal (arts) college allows us to distribute condoms out in the open in the center of campus or anywhere really. But, there’s finesse to how to do give them away. In a school of 10,000 undergraduates you’d think they’d get picked up by the handful regardless of the situation. But I’ve learned it’s not always so easy.  Why don’t some college students take FREE condoms!?

Shame. Embarrassment. Apathy. Misinformation. All of the above?

I’ve gone out a few times to hand condoms out somewhere where I’ve set up a table.  I’ve even dressed up and in costumes to make people less weary.  But some students walk past me without making eye contact.  I’ve been told: “my girlfriend is on the pill, so we don’t have to worry,” and some tell me their boyfriends take care of that.

My response to those students and all young people…. there is no shame in safe sex, it never hurts to be doubly careful, and ladies take your health in your own hands! Carry condoms– especially if they’re free.

But a little advice I do have is to be bold while handing condoms out.  The night I wore a kitty costume was a pretty big success.  The other time when I went to the Colbert Rally (Yeah, that was here.) I got a complete stranger to hold a huge foam board with the phrase “FREE CONDOMS” on one side and “SC NEEDS REAL SEX-ED” on the other.  People flocked to me.  I gave out 500+ condoms in just a matter of an hour or two.  Ha. As the band walked by about half of them came over and snagged a couple.

So, it’s good to have them readily available in your living space where your guests can just take one or two, but if you make it a “BIG TO-DO,” it’ll take on a life of its own.  You’ll be out of stock before you can say: “Great American Condom Campaign!!!”

Download the application here

This event will bring together people from across the state to celebrate the power of women. According to Unitewomen.org, this is the first time in American history that a simultaneous rally will be happenings in all 50 states!

Join us on Saturday, April 28th, from 11am-1pm at the South Carolina Statehouse

By Emily Rogers, a member of the SWARM Youth Council and student at the College of Charleston

Dear 15-year-old Emily,

First of all, kudos for you for getting the HPV vaccine (and kudos to your mom for being so awesome by supporting it)! It’s all about preventative care. About now you are finishing your freshman year of high school and, wow, has it been intense.

Your best friend will reveal to you that she had decided to have sex with her boyfriend who’s also a freshman. At this point the only sex education either of you have had was in middle school and that was just anatomy. You’ll have to wait until next year to learn about condoms, STIs, and to watch an awkward breast self-examination video. Your friend’s chosen method of birth control is called the “pull-out” method? (Um… FYI it’s completely unreliable at best.) She doesn’t know about anything else. I’m not gonna tell you if she gets pregnant or an STI.  You’ll just have to educate yourself the best ways you can figure out and do your best to explain to your friends that they need to too. Forget the whole thing about young people giving “bad” information. You’re probably the best source of education most of those girls will ever have.

You are a lucky girl; your parents are all about education. They will answer any questions you have (and your dad will make it uncomfortable, but he can’t help it). You are in the minority of teens whose parents are open about sexual health. You lucked out.

My advice to you would be to share that knowledge with your peers: those who are not able to speak with their parents about sex and those who are at risk for teen pregnancy, or STIs, and not to mention the emotions that go along with sex. You should start practicing now, because you’ll be a part of SWARM in college. There you’ll continue to educate your peers and convince them the “pull-out” method ain’t got nothing on condoms! But you’re gonna do even better than that… you’re going to change things. You’re going to be one of thousands of sparks to ignite a change where you live. You’re going to help make sure that no 9th grader ever uses the “pull-out” method without knowing that she should be using a condom.

Keep your head high. There’s a lot more going on than sex, though that seems to be what everyone’s doing and talking about. Your history test, for instance, next week is going to get you grounded unless you actually sit down and read the chapter!

Oh, one last thing—You’re awesome in every way.

With love, 21-year-old Emily

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE

Council Goals:

1. 1. Raise awareness among South Carolina youth about the need for STI and pregnancy prevention efforts for themselves and other young people.
2. 2. Advocate improving sex education policies that effect students in South Carolina and other policy priorities.
3. 3. Empower other youth to get involved in their communities.
4.   

What can YOU expect?

• • $100 per month stipend
• • Meet, work with, and learn from amazing young leaders across the state and country
• • Gain information and skills that you will be able to capitalize on throughout your academic and future careers.
• • Collaborate and make connections with Tell Them and Advocates for Youth staff who care about these issues as much as you do.
• • Share your experience and perspective.
• • Hard work, excitement, and fun… all while making a difference!
• • The opportunity to travel, and attend trainings across the state and country
•   

Who can Apply?

Anyone meeting the following qualifications is encouraged to apply for S.W.A.R.M.

1. 1. Be currently enrolled in a South Carolina college and between the ages of 18-24.
2. 2. Be able to commit to the S.W.A.R.M. Council for a minimum of one school year.
3. 3. Participate in bi-monthly conference calls
4. 4. Complete presentations, events, and write personalized blogs
5. 5. Participate in activities to continue building a strong base of advocates in the community and on campus.
6.   

Interested?

Please contact us with any questions. Then fill out the application and email, fax, or mail the application back to Tell Them by May 10, 2012. We will conduct interviews for selected candidates. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Email: tallen@newmorningfoundation.org
Phone: (803) 929-0088       
Fax: (803) 929-0089

By Sarah DuRussel-Weston, a member of the SWARM Youth Council for Policy Change and graduate student at the University of South Carolina

One of the highlights of the S.W.A.R.M meet-ups this year has been a film screening of the documentary “Let’s Talk About Sex”, followed by a discussion led by Tell Them staff. The film explores how we view sex in the context of our families and the media. The documentary takes you into the homes of families across the U.S and Northern Europe. 

The difference in the parents’ styles of talking to their kids about sex is almost as large as the Atlantic Ocean which separates the two continents.  Here there’s this negative stigma about sex.  There, it’s respected but embraced.  You know what the outcome is?  There is a shockingly high rate of parents in the states who have no idea just how sexual their kids are. They say: “Don’t do it,” and the youth reply with “Ok.”  The problem is that kids in households of all backgrounds in the States are crossing their fingers and doing it behind their parents’ backs.  In Europe the families have open conversations. The parents treat their children as young adults. They have honest conversations. They talk about morality, and they talk about respecting yourself.  I think the parents generally must simply respect their children more, because they teach them how to protect themselves with contraceptives more. A large point to recognize is that the US has much higher rates of teen pregnancy and STI transmissions than they do in Europe. I think that means that those Europeans are onto something…. Respect and Knowledge!!!

Anyways, we talked about the movie with the college students and faculty that came to watch the movie. During the conversation afterwards you could tell some people were uncomfortable with being as “liberal” as those Europeans, but they also seemed to get the point.  You could see the wheels spinning in their heads.  They were challenging their perspective on frank conversations- “What if my parents would have had such open conversations with me?”

SWARM being a program with the objective to create a shift in cultural perspectives on Sex Education towards accurate and comprehensive information, I think we hit our goal.  They were thinking about what they were taught.  They were challenging themselves to question if other more truthful and honest sex education methods were more successful than the “Just don’t do it” method so many of them received growing up.

“Let’s Talk About Sex” is available for sale online.  You can find it on Amazon, but if you’re interested, I know where you can probably get the hook-up.  Contact Tell Them and tell them you want to see it, or you want to show it to a group.  I bet they’ll be glad to assist you.

By Leigh Ann Black, a member of the SWARM Youth Council for Policy Change and reigning Ms. Claflin

About two weeks ago Tell Them volunteers, members, and advocates traveled to the State House in Columbia, South Carolina, to lobby members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate and urged them to support any and all legislation that expands access to reproductive health information and services.  We also presented each member that we met with a copy of the “Tell Them Bill of Rights.”

I met with Senator John W. Matthew Jr. and Representative Jerry N. Govan who both represented Orangeburg County. Meeting with these two men was a great experience and they both paid a great amount of attention for the short time that I spoke with them, and they made me feel that my voice really mattered. After all, I was speaking not just for myself but for all South Carolinians. These are experiences that I will forever take pride in.  Knowing that I helped to make other voices heard has been a humbling experience.

This was my second time participating in Bee Day. As I approached the steps to the State House, I realized why this was so important to me. Every day, I watch the news and receive updates on my cell phone letting me know exactly how the men who hold positions in Washington DC feel about women. Every day, I become more agitated with the headlines, with governors and with the people who sit on TV and say that “women don’t need contraception” or “Abstinence-only” methods are the only methods that work (NOT TRUE!!!). Who are these people pandering to? I’m a woman and we need contraception, and abstinence-only education leaves young people vulnerable due to ignorance. I’m tired of my policy makers not representing me or my peers. They aren’t representing what’s scientifically proven to be healthiest for young people.

Advocates for Abstinence-only education programs believe that teaching young people about their sexuality is like giving them a loaded gun. The truth of the matter is they are already locked and loaded naturally. (You know, the entire biological system called the reproductive system.)  It’s the only system we expect to be non-functional until a non-tangible concept created by man called marriage has been fulfilled. These ticking time bombs have been exploding in our state for years while Abstinence-only programs reign as king in the South. Teen pregnancy, STIs, and HIV continue to spread due to the direct refusal to disseminate information that would stifle these obstacles to self-efficacy. I speak out; I write letters; I talk to my peers about how flawed our state and the other states around us are for not only continuing Abstinence-only sex education for the youth but also how they are making it more and more difficult to provide accurate information to the youth about things that are completely safe and legal for them to use.

There are some people who make things happen. There are some who watch things happen.  And, there are others who wonder what has happened.  I know which category I fall into…where do you fall?  Let me encourage you to read up on the facts.  You might want to compare poverty levels of states in the South with that of the North and then take a look at their sex education policies.  You’ll find Ab-only states are much more likely to suffer from poor economies, lower high school and higher education completion rates, and higher rates of crime.  Compare the US as a whole which has a relatively high usage of contraception rates among adults to countries in Africa or Asia that don’t, and look at their quality of life.  There is no argument of these correlations.

Please be proactive against your sexual health rights being chipped away at.  Stay informed. Every time you take action on one of Tell Them’s Action Alerts, you make a difference. It puts your legislators in their place—the place you elected them to represent you and responsibility.

Project Condom Upstate year one is complete! Everyone did a fantastic job! 

There’s quite the Buzz on Twitter and Facebook about the models. Each group surprised the entire audience with their truly wonderful creations. The diversity of the contestants ranged from teenagers to stay-at-home moms with teenagers of their own. 

DJ T.O. (@DJ_TO) rocked the beats for the show and one of the SWARM volunteers controlled our massive light construction. We had a tremendous partner in One Condoms, who donated all the condoms for the dresses. And, we had five fabulous judges: Ryan Wilson from the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Pregnancy, Dr. Melisa Holms, MD – Obstetrician and Gynecologist and author of Girlology, Greg Campbell: Executive Director of AID Upstate, India Walters of Contraceptive Access Campaign, and Meghan Rapp of Advocates for Youth. There isn’t much more I could have asked for.

Check out the pictures from the night and let us know who you think was “Best Dressed for Sexual Health Success”!