Mesa State’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) recently hosted “Sexy Night,” a Valentine’s Day themed student mixer focused on promoting safe sex.
“It’s basically a safe sex awareness program for Valentine’s Day,” RHA President Andrea Nieto said. “We’re trying to present it in a way that will actually appeal to college students.”
The event was held in the Academic Classroom Building on Feb. 9. It included activities like speed-dating, the newlywed game, a photo booth and condom bingo. Winners received $25 gift cards to restaurants such as Chili’s and Olive Garden.
“The games were a really good way to get people involved, and worked well as an ice breaker,” a Residence Hall Council member, Hillary Hoover said.
Students were able to help themselves to free punch and brownies, provided by Sodexo. These were placed next to information pamphlets about sexual safety, which contained information about STDs, sexual orientation, and ways to practice safe sex.
Students were also encouraged to take some of the 300 free condoms, which were donated by the Western Colorado AIDS Project.
RHA hopes that by providing students with free condoms and information, they will be able to make smart, informed decisions regarding sexual safety.
“You can’t stop people from having sex, but you can hopefully educate them to have safe sex,” RHA Vice President Sierra Schwartz said. “Hopefully, if nothing else, people use the condoms and are safe this Valentine’s Day.”
In addition to giving away condoms and prizes, RHA held a service auction to raise money for the Western Colorado AIDS Project. They auctioned off six dates to Cold Stone, and raised about $65.
While RHA was pleased with how the event turned out, student attendance was not as high as they had hoped.
“I think it’s a good event to put on, I just wish more people would have come,” Hoover said.
The poor turnout was mostly due to lack of advertising. Although RHA hung posters in the residence halls, Hoover felt that they could have promoted the event more effectively if they had gotten the residence hall councils of each dormitory to work on encouraging students to attend the event.
Hoover expects “Sexy Night” will return next year, with increased advertisement to promote student attendance.
“It probably would have been more fun with more people,” Schwartz said. “But the people who came had a great time. We hope to see this event again next year.”

lrrussel@mesastate.edu