Students lined up at The Center for Student Wellbeing on Thursday to pick up free STI testing kits, condoms and other safe-sex supplies during “Cupid’s Check-In.”
The Valentine’s Day-themed event was held in partnership with Planned Parenthood and the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Chicago Healthy Adolescents and Teen (CHAT) program.
Tionna Mitchell, a CHAT specialist with Planned Parenthood said the goal of the event was to “break some of the barriers amongst STI testing.”
Mitchell emphasized that stigma and lack of knowledge about STIs often discourage students from addressing their sexual health.
“Not knowing where to go is a big barrier, and the topic is a little taboo, so nobody wants to talk about it,” she said.
Planned Parenthood CHAT representative Shajeah Ali said events like this are meant to normalize testing and encourage responsibility.
“Chlamydia and gonorrhea is just so prevalent in ages 13 to 24,” Ali said. “The resources aren’t there. So we’re just here to provide the community with those resources.”
Students who attended said the event made sexual health feel easier to approach. Dominick Rodriguez, a sophomore musical theatre and marketing double major, said he stopped by to stay informed.
“I think sexual health is such a taboo thing, but that’s the wrong way we should be looking at it. It’s good to know your sexual health,” Rodriguez said.
Ali stressed that beyond awareness, the event was meant to encourage students to take action. Throughout the event, she repeatedly emphasized the importance of routine testing and personal responsibility.
“Having an STI is just so common. We just want to break that stigma behind getting tested because you won’t know your status if you don’t get tested,” Ali said.
Her message reflected a broader goal of making sexual health feel like a normal part of self-care rather than something students avoid out of fear or embarrassment.
“It’s a gateway to having a more open conversation about sexual health,” Rodriguez said.
Nakiyah Powell, a first-year music business major, said having resources directly accessible on campus encourages students to engage without pressure.
“People don’t have enough spaces like this to come join and learn,” Powell said.
Organizers said that they hope that meeting students where they are and bringing testing and education directly into student spaces will continue to build comfort, awareness and healthy habits.
Maxwell Heithus, a first-year musical theatre major, said that the event helped facilitate conversations many students might otherwise avoid.
“I feel like it’s easier for people to talk about sexual health if it’s something sponsored by the school,” Heithus said.
Copy edited by Katie Peters
