When it comes to sex, students need to know two things: communication and education.

That was the message panel members at the Safer Sex Patrol’s open forum stressed Wednesday night.

“If you’re doing the deed, you better be able to describe the deed with the person your doing it with,” said Illinois graduate student Josh Phillips.

Phillips, a representative from Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, was one of the experts who spoke at the forum in Bovee University Center Auditorium. Other panel members included Sarah Yonder, a physician in University Health Services, and Mary Barz, Central MichiganPregnancy Services executive director.

Yonder said students need to seek out accurate resources for any other questions they may have about sexual issues.

“When you’re in college, so much can affect you for the rest of your life,” Yonder said.

More than 50 students attended the forum, which allowed people to ask questions about sensitive topics, such as sexually transmitted infections and the human papilloma virus.

“I enjoyed seeing people being comfortable with asking questions out loud,” said Montgomery junior Linsey Grove.

Grove, a student coordinator for the Safer Sex Patrol, said the purpose of the forum was to give the students an opportunity to have their questions answered with accurate information.

White Lake junior Leah Green used the forum to get ideas for a HEV 319: HDFS Skills and Methods project that encourages parents to become sex educators for their children.

Green said Barz’s information on different methods of promoting abstinence with middle school children will be helpful with her research.

However, the forum was not all about questions and answers.

Organizers also hosted a guessing game, which awarded students free condoms. Literature from various campus organizations, including University Health Services and VOX, Voices for Planned Parenthood, also was available.

Grove said the turnout was a success, since it was Safer Sex Patrol’s first attempt at this type of outreach. She said the organization hopes to continue to bring resources to students who may be uncomfortable seeking them out.

“As long as someone gets some information, it is a success,” Grove said.

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