As the timeless hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa once mused in their 1991 single “Let’s Talk About Sex,” we should all, in fact, talk about sex because “it keeps coming up anyhow.” While that reasoning may seem a little weak, the sentiment behind it is the truth. There is no avoiding the topic, whether it’s the oversexualization of the advertisement industry or teaching it in the classroom—sex is here and not leaving anytime soon.

As a young male college student, I find the omnipresence of sex daunting. It wasn’t until I began to intern at a Utah branch of Planned Parenthood that I realized how important sex really is.

Working with my college, Westminster, I attempted to supply students with the means to make educated choices when it comes to their sexual lives. My primary way of doing this is by setting up a table on campus supplied with both male and female condoms, various types of flavored lubrication and information regarding the way to make informed decisions in students’ sexual lives. Once drawn to the table, a shocking number put up mental blinders and walk on by. I offer the information as well as the prophylactics.

With the recent, thankfully failed, attempt by the Utah Legislature to restrict sex ed in classrooms, I was more than a little frightened. That the simple act of teaching about safe sex is contested by lawmakers is baffling. I realize we don’t live in the most liberal state, but the young minds of my generation should have a basic understanding of the act.

That Salt-N-Pepa song came out over 20 years ago. And we still haven’t gotten over the fact that it’s just an act? Hopefully, my club, VOX (or Students for Choice), will, with the help of Planned Parenthood, be there to help people. As Salt-N-Pepa so eloquently put it: “Let’s tell it how it is, and how it could be/ How it was, and of course, how it should be.”

For more information, ask your local Planned Parenthood.

Paul Hudder
Salt Lake City