During the first week of college, there are ample opportunities to catch the eye of the opposite sex. The prospect of a new fling, especially when alcohol is involved, is certainly tempting.

The beer-soaked floors lure students to come drink in celebration of the start of school. But beware of who you decide to trust and the decisions you make.

After a few cans of Keystone Light and a few more trips to the bathroom, the idea of going upstairs seems fine. But before the conversation gets to the next level, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to be safe rather than sorry.

SU Health Services provides cheap birth control pills to girls who make an appointment with a doctor. You can pick up birth control pills for just $5 a month at the pharmacy.

Since birth control doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases, it’s still important to use another effective form of protection. LifeStyle brand condoms are provided for free to students at SU Health Services and will be your friends. Condom kings and queens, who supply condoms for students that need them, are also established on every floor of a residence hall.

Still, having sex with someone you just met is never completely safe. As you walk into the bedroom, you’re probably not going to say, ‘Oh, by the way, I barely know you, but do you have an STD?’

Since students in college often hook up with more than one person at a time, it’s important to double check, and then check again. The last thing anyone wants is to catch an STD from someone who you didn’t even know existed before last night.

Physical health concerns aren’t the only concerns that exist with one-night stands, there are also possible emotional health concerns. For some, meeting someone who immediately wants to get serious after one night of casual sex can be overwhelming. Consider the personal boundaries and how your head will react to your steadfast hormonal reactions.

The most important thing is to know what you’re getting into. A lot of college is about good decision making, so make the best choices that work for you. Hopefully they’re safe ones.

Rebecca Toback is a sophomore magazine major and the health columnist. Her columns appear every Thursday. She can be reached at rltoback@syr.edu.

Published on August 26, 2009 at 12:00 pm