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STUDENTS
LOCAL
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Condom Knowledge
Guest Column
Welcome and welcome back. I am starting a new adventure with you,
my hopefully faithful readers. So as you move from high school senior
to college freshman, freshman to sophomore and so on, I am also beginning
my new role as regular columnist for The Shorthorn. Every Tuesday I
will be addressing your sexual health, and general wellness issues and
any hot topics that might pop up. I’ll be discussing things like
lube selection, the new HPV vaccine, stress reduction in and out of
the classroom and any ideas I might get from you. But before we begin
our new relationship, let me tell you a little about myself.
My name is Greg Bateson, though many of you only know me as the “Condom
Guy.” My actual title is Substance abuse prevention/health education
coordinator, which in the most simple terms, means I am here to help
students make the best choices — for them — about a wide
array of health and wellness issues.
Many of you may have firsthand experience with my attempts to help.
You may have seen me with llamas on the Central Library mall on Valentine’s
Day encouraging not smoking or safe sex.
Or you may have seen a condom blown up and then explode when put in
contact with baby oil to prove that oil-based lubricants and condoms
don‘t mix. You may have had firsthand experience wearing drunk
goggles and having to run obstacle courses, or dressing drunk Barbie.
If anyone tells you they got pregnant or Chlamydia at one of my presentations,
please know it was the disc game and not inappropriate student conduct.
Don’t panic. I will continue all those fun activities throughout
the semester in residence halls, Greek houses and student organizations.
This column is just a way for me to reach more people.
So how did I get here? I am an alumnus of this fine institution, however
my tenure as a student predates most of your birth dates. I have worked
as an admissions coordinator, a high school teacher, a performer, a
public health educator, a sexuality educator and a YMCA program director.
I have worked with school-age children as well as youth who have been
incarcerated, public high school students and college students. I have
done health education presentations in hospitals, prisons, bars, public
and private schools, conference rooms and universities, but I must say
the university setting and college students are my favorite.
So why do I get a column, and you don’t? I don’t know. I
have been asked by several students throughout my time here (five years
and counting) to write a column, so when I was approached, I agreed.
This will not be Dr. Ruth. She already has her column, and I don’t
want to compete. My hope is to provide pertinent and current information
on topics that concern you in a timely and concise manner. How’s
that for a lofty mission statement?
While I do not plan to use the advice column Q&A format, I do need
your input. I am very eager to share information on contraception, sexual
health, drugs, alcohol and stress.
But this column is for you, so tell me what you want to know. Because
as we all know: Knowledge is power!
Please contact me at bateson@uta.edu and put “column” in
the subject line.
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