Whether you want to believe it or not, Marquette students are having sex. Stop the average Marquette student, and they will agree that the Marquette student population is just as sexually active as any public school population. In fact, 80 percent of 18-year-olds in the United States are sexually active. Sexual health on this campus is an issue, and Marquette does not present enough options to satisfactorily cover the problem. Hopefully that is about to change.

In view of the liberal arts tradition of this university, it is important to keep in mind that values and beliefs are personal choices and that the pursuit of knowledge requires an open mind and as much accurate information as possible. The focus of a liberal arts education is to allow students to be exposed to as many different views as possible. This institution of higher learning should promote forward thinking. If there is no outlet to discuss reproductive health or women’s reproductive options, then learning is stifled. One of the ideals that this university was built upon is Cura Personalis — care for the whole person. By denying students, staff and faculty access to information about their health, Marquette is contradicting the very ideal on which it was founded.

Whether a person chooses to have sex or not, knowledge of basic health care and options available is essential to every student’s right to develop socially and educationally into adults that are true to themselves. The goal of VOX is to support students who can think for themselves, who have been presented with all the information from all sides of the issues, who can discuss these ideas in an atmosphere that respects the inherent dignity that is fundamental to every person and who can make moral choices in an often immoral world. Please contact your MUSG senator and let them know that you support the establishment of MU VOX.

We look forward to an active, engaging debate about the role of sexual health care on campus. If you have questions, concerns, interests or would like more information about this group, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

Dobrowolsky is a senior political science and international affairs major, Chay is a political science graduate student, and both are MU VOX coordinators.