Sex: Some Students Choose Not to Partake

By Connect Mason Reporter Rachael Dickson

Abstinence is not as uncommon a choice among college students as some might think.

According to the fall 2007 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, a survey which included 20,507 respondents, 32.1% of college males and 31.7% of college females have never had vaginal sex.

In addition, many Mason students have come out in the open with their choices in public, by joining an abstinence-themed Facebook group, such as the “I can wait” group, with 74 members.

Graduate music student Charlie Mitchell cited a number of reasons for his staying abstinent, including the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, the possibility of pregnancy and his belief system.

“[Those reasons] all have merits, but my decision is based on the fact that I think the act of having sex is something personal and whether you do it flippantly or on “special occasions," I see it as having an impact on you as a person and how you act around or treat others,” Mitchell said. “It may not be an instant impact, but an impact nonetheless.”

Junior English major Tierney Kain chooses to stay abstinent because of her faith.

“I was raised in a very Christian home and I’m very religious,” Kain said. “Basically, I believe in the Bible, and that says don’t have sex before you get married and that’s what I’m doing. It’s my personal choice. I know that’s kinda weird because not a lot of people practice what they believe anymore.”

At times, the decision to be abstinent can be hard to keep.

“As you get older, there’s always temptation everywhere,” Kain said. “I have to make sure I stay strong in my faith and strong in God because if not, I know who I am without God and it’s not a good person. I feel like it’s hard, but I’m going to do it."

Both students find advantages to their decision.

“Other than having a large chance that I don’t have an STD, I don’t have to worry about how to react around the person I slept with, if the relationship will work out, is a relationship expected, and all that stuff,” Mitchell said. “Mainly the best part is an overall peace that I have enough to worry about without adding to the load.”

“One day I hope I marry a guy who chose to stay a virgin until he got married, because I want to marry someone with the same beliefs as me,” Kain said. “I believe that sex is something God created for marriage and when you misuse it - it does create those scars and you do get attached to people. I feel like it does make your relationship that much stronger - when it’s the only guy I’ve ever been with and the only guy I ever want to be with. I feel like, how can you not have a better relationship when you go into it thinking that.”