Life on campus filled with roommates, obstacles

“Hello. My name is Kevin, and this is the story of how I got chlamydia.”

The crowd of… “Hello. My name is Kevin, and this is the story of how I got chlamydia.”

The crowd of incoming freshmen and parents laughed and clapped at this opening line of “Life on Campus…Student Stories,” a presentation held in the Soldiers and Sailors Auditorium Friday afternoon.

And while Pitt junior Kevin Kelly didn’t actually — nor did he ever — have a sexually transmitted disease, other Pitt students like him enlightened the newest Pitt additions with fictional stories — from having a nightmare roommate to experiencing an anxiety disorder — to demonstrate the school’s various services.

Kelly demonstrated that it’s important for students to talk to their sexual partners to make sure they’re not contracting any diseases or medical problems.

And if there is a problem, Pitt’s full-service health center is located on Fifth Avenue in the Medical Arts Building and offers a health clinic, pharmacy and health education, according to substance abuse coordinator Joseph Mull.

But while Kelly’s story exhibited an incident resulting from consensual sexual intercourse, two other students performed a skit that demonstrated sexual assault.

And, unfortunately, it’s not a rare occurrence.

One in 10 men and one in six college women will be the victims of sexual assault, according to Mary Koch Ruiz, coordinator of Sexual Assault Services at Pitt.

She says Pitt’s counseling program — located on the third floor of the William Pitt Union — has services for victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, harassment and dating violence, all free and confidential.

But the program doesn’t stop with harassment.

The counseling center has groups for talking about drug and alcohol abuse problems, eating and body image issues, academic support, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

But Ruiz added that the counseling center also helps students with everyday problems, like stress or homesickness.

“Some students take on too much independence that they just can’t handle,” she said.

But the student actors performed skits to tell students that most academic and social freedom is beneficial, and with all of the activities and resources Pitt has to offer, there is a place for everyone.

“There are people who will listen to me and provide me with guidance, and give me advice as I move on through my college years,” one student actor said about his Pitt experience.

The Office of Student Affairs, located in the William Pitt Union, is just one place to gain a “deeper sense of who you are,” according to Michele Scott Taylor, director of Student Affairs.

She says that it’s important for students to become globally aware and culturally competent, and joining the organizations — such as the Black Action Society, Asian Student Alliance or fraternities and sororities — can help them grow and achieve these qualities.

She added that the office is always looking for interns or students interested in learning how to run the program.

Career Services, an academic resource located on the second floor of the William Pitt Union, is a program designed to help students not only discover what they’re good at and want to do with their lives, but to also help them long after they decide, according to Georgine Materniak, assistant director and Pitt Pathway Program manager of Career Services.

Materniak says the program assists students with their resumes, helps them find internships, prepares them for the interview process and deals with alumni career networking.

And while it’s important for students to get academically involved to get their careers on track, the social opportunities are endless at the University, said Shawn Brooks, interim director of Student Life.

“We’re here to create your home away from home,” he said, and explained how it’s helpful for students to get to know their resident assistants.

“These folks will be your new friends, your role models, your peers and your mentors,” he said.

Pitt also does its best to make sure that students are safe.

The University provides its students with a 24-hour, 7-day police department.

“We’re watching your backs basically. We’re here to support you, to make sure that you continue to have fun,” Pitt police officer Ron Bennett said of the department. “While you’re here, the main thing is to have fun, but do it safely.”

The presentation was fairly helpful, according to freshman Justin Romeo, who felt that Career Services was one of the main resources talked about that he would like to use.

But not everyone felt that way.

“I think some of the information was helpful, but some of it seemed too enthusiastic and not as realistic,” said Pitt freshman Natalie Talis. “All of this stuff has been presented to us like 10 times in the course of two days.”

Talis added that while some of it was interesting, she thought she would be able to find the mentioned resources on her own time.