USI will launch its annual SHAG (Sexual Health and Guidance) Week at 1pm on Monday (February 8) in DIT Bolton Street. 

USI President, Peter Mannion, will officially launch this year’s campaign, the motto of which is “Whoever You Like, Love Safer Sex”. 

Being showcased at the launch, will be three sexual health awareness video advertisements, which were put together by audio-visual students at the Institute of Technology Tallaght, especially for the campaign. 

The world’s only sexual health magician, who has performed in colleges all over Ireland in recent years, will also perform at the event. 

This will bring a humorous but serious message to students about sexual. 

This year’s campaign will focus on opening up conversation among students in Ireland about sex and sexuality. 

USI will be distributing 45,000 sexual health awareness packs across the country. 

Each SHAG pack has a condom and information on contraception from thinkcontraception.ie, Durex and the Irish Family Planning Association.  

All the information provided aims to help students have safer sex and make informed decisions regarding their contraceptive choices.    

USI President Peter Mannion said: 

“Taking steps to maintain sexual health is what SHAG Week is all about. Colleges across the country will experience an influx of SHAG packs, which will hopefully encourage the student population to talk frankly about safe sex. 

The organisations that work together with USI to make SHAG Week possible all agree that students must become more educated in terms of sexual health and issues relating to practising safer sex. 

With USI celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, we note how far we as a society have come in terms of promoting safer sex. Various USI officers were even arrested for distributing condoms during the seventies and early eighties. And while society has become more open, and the role of contraception is now discussed more freely, we still need to ensure that students understand the risks associated with unsafe sex.” 

USI Welfare Officer, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, said:  

“Sexual health is an integral part of student health. There has been a dramatic rise in the numbers of Sexually Transmitted Infections reported in Ireland. By running this campaign, USI want to encourage students to talk about their sexual health. 

There still seems to be a taboo when it comes to talking about sex related issues. We want to break through these barriers and encourage people to practice safer sex and to look after their sexual health by getting screened for STIs.” 

Ends.