Washington University, it’s time for our yearly conversation about practicing safe sex. That’s right, we’re talking about protection to avoid pregnancy and STIs. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes, thinking that this isn’t high school sex ed. Well, give yourself a pat on the back, because that means this isn’t for you—it’s for the 7.16 percent of our survey-takers who said that they “never” use any form of pregnancy prevention and the 6.65 percent who never take steps to prevent STIs.

While our Sex Survey can’t possibly capture a complete, accurate picture of the actual state of protection usage on campus (our survey is for fun, not for science), it does offer a glimpse into a pervasive issue on college campuses. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that sexually-active 15- to 24-year-olds account for half of all new STIs diagnosed per year, and women ages 15-19 are considered to be at the highest risk of an unintended pregnancy. Despite repeated messaging about the consequences associated with unsafe sex, people in our age group continue to disregard the risks.

For those who do chose to use contraceptives and methods to prevent STIs, at Washington University, there are few barriers to access. In addition to offering multiple types of birth control, students also have access to several forms of emergency contraceptives through Student Health Services (SHS). Additional long-term preventative measures, like the HPV vaccine, can be prescribed and administered in a series of short visits.

While there is always room for improvement, Washington University—both formally through SHS and informally through student groups—can be considered forward-thinking when it comes to sexual health. Just this week, Washington University’s Peer Health Educators sponsored their annual “Sex Week,” with events ranging from “Sexy Craft Night” to the “Blank Monologues.” SHS provides a free STI screening every semester in the Danforth University Center. In the past two years, the Habif Health and Wellness Center has made improvements to their contraceptive offerings in response to student demand for increased options and flexible policies. Phi Lambda Psi, a women’s health and wellness honorary, expanded their recruitment to include non-Greek women in 2017.

Moreover, if you feel passionately about encouraging your fellow students to use preventative methods, consider getting involved with one of the sexual health-centric student groups on campus, like XMag or Planned Parenthood Generation Action. Enact change on campus by volunteering as a Peer Health Educator or joining the Health and Wellness Committee.

While sex-related decisions are some of the most personal choices that a person can make, we encourage our fellow Washington University students to take advantage of the resources at their disposal. Of course, there are valid reasons for choosing to not use contraceptives or STI-prevention—but indifference is not one of them.