Throughout the following week, the Resident Hall Association will host Sexual Awareness Week.

Most fliers used to advertise Sexual Awareness Week are appropriate.

However, advertising sexual awareness on a sucker shaped poster which says “blow pop” is an offensive innuendo and sends the wrong message.

Sex should not be advertised as a joke.

“We try to make the experience for students living in residence halls the best possible,” said RHA President Eugene Smith. “We feel everyone should be informed about safe sex and it is something people shouldn’t be ashamed of, but still be careful.”

Students being aware about sexual facts is a noble cause, and the RHA should be commended for taking on this mission.

“It’s nice to know awareness about dangers and trying to make school safer,” said Sarah Kazmierczak, junior history major.

However, there is always a possibility that this topic may cross the boundaries of someone’s comfort zone. Members of the RHA are, or should be, readily prepared for such a situation.

“We don’t want people to feel that way [offended], so we make it inclusive to everyone,” Smith said.

While the method of advertising this event was appropriate in most cases, some were offensive. Posters which promote awareness through sexual innuendoes can easily be called crude.

Smith explained the reasoning behind the fliers.

“We try to make things very appealing to the eye to catch peoples’ attention and have a better turnout,” he said.

John Grobe, freshman undecided major, doesn’t see a problem with the advertisements.

“It is appropriate, it adds a lighter side to a serious topic so we could still get the info we need on a serious topic,” Grobe said.

Kazmierczak disagrees with Grobe’s statement.

“It sends the wrong message. It makes it sound crude and not the way it’s supposed to,” she said.

Freshman engineering major Andrew Vozovoi agrees, and says students would take it more as a joke if advertised that way.

Thankfully, only a few of the questionable posters were put up.

Still, the RHA should be aware this method is not the most effective. Offending some people may not be the best way to get a high turn out for Sexual Awareness Week.

Joking about sex may be OK among a group of friends, but it certainly is not when it comes to promoting awareness.

Knock Knock. Who’s there? Sexual Awareness Week – is anyone laughing?