Marquette is ranked in the bottom fifth of universities surveyed in a study on the availability of sexual health information to college students.
The Trojan Sexual Health Report Card, released last week, was conducted by Trojan brand condoms and Sperling's Best Places, a company that analyzes data. The aim of the study was to look at the information and resources available to students about sexual health and evaluate whether the schools are providing their students with the means to make informed decisions about sexual activity, according to a press release from Trojan.
"I think what this survey showed is that — regardless of ranking on the Trojan report card — schools can improve the way they communicate sexual health information with students," said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's Best Places.
Marquette was chosen to be one of the schools in the study based on its size, iconic status, familiarity to the public and type of school, according to the release. The surveyors chose at least one school from each state to participate in the study.
"While we understand there are a variety of reasons some schools do not provide these resources to students, we feel that comprehensive education and access to information is the best way to ensure people make smart decisions about protection should they choose to be sexually active," Jim Daniels, vice president of marketing for Trojan, said in the press release.
The surveyors gave each school a letter grade in seven different categories. These categories included availability of condoms on campus, sexual assault services and lecture and outreach programs. The grade in each category was then used to calculate a grade point average in the same way grades are calculated academically. The GPA was used to determine each school's ranking on the list.
Marquette received failing grades in three categories, including availability of condoms on campus and providing other forms of contraception to its students. The university also failed in the category of providing an advice column or some public forum for discussing sexual health. The highest grade Marquette received was a B for its sexual assault services.
"It was certainly interesting that that was the ranking we ended up with. In some ways it leaves room for improvement and in other ways it is a compliment to the efforts that the administration and faculty have put into this effort," said Chris Daood, assistant director of Marquette's Counseling Center and coordinator for Violence Opposition in Community Education, a Marquette organization that focuses on sexual violence prevention.
The results of the study highlight the major areas where the study's criteria say Marquette is lacking in providing resources for its students' sexual health. One aspect that differentiates Marquette from the schools that received the highest rankings is that those schools provide easily accessible information that can often be found online. Marquette's Web site received a D.
Marquette may face a greater obstacle in better educating its students about sexual health due to its religious affiliation.
"I think Marquette's Catholic affiliation plays a part in the lack of discussion about sex on campus, which negatively affects the sexual health of students here," said Emily Krueger, a freshman in the College of Communication.
All of the five religiously affiliated colleges included in the survey fell into the bottom 25 percent of the rankings. Marquette was ranked in the middle of the religiously affiliated schools. Texas Christian University and Georgetown University had the same GPA and were ranked 78th and 80th, respectively. The University of Notre Dame and Brigham Young University were ranked in the last two spots, the only schools to fail all categories.
"As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Marquette promotes the values of the Catholic Church related to health and sexuality. As a result, it is not surprising to see how we 'rated' on a survey paid for by a condom company," said Director of Student Health Services Dana Mills via e-mail.
According to Mills, Marquette promotes student health in areas other than their sexual wellness.
"In keeping with the philosophy of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, Marquette provides an atmosphere where the health and well-being of the total person — physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual — is encouraged and promoted," Mills said.