Campus Conversations are a series of panel discussions which bring together college students and experts to discuss various issues that affect young people. The interactive sessions are meant to engage students and foster a culture of healthy sexual behaviour and attitudes. Campus Conversations are an initiative of Campus Moments Magazine in partnership with Sexual Rights Center Bulawayo.

Save the dates

14 July 2017 – Tackling the Condom Shame

Concept Note:

Development Objective(s):

To promote a culture of healthy sexual behaviour.
To increase awareness of Reproductive Health and Rights.

Program Details and Rationale:

Tackling the condom shame is a panel discussion which brings together students and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights experts to deliberate young people’s attitudes to the condom as a means of safe sex and contraception.

It turns out that whilst most sexually active young people are not ashamed to admit that they are having sex, they are embarrassed to buy condoms and other forms of contraception.

This ‘shame’ leads to risky behaviours such as indulging in unprotected sex. Statistics show that the bulk of new infections are occurring among college –age young women(National Aids Council 2016).

Expected Outputs/Results:

To re-frame the act of buying contraceptive so it’s not a declaration of having uncommitted sex, but a smart choice to protect oneself against STI’s and unwanted pregnancies.

Contribution to the sustainable development agenda:

The panel discussion will contribute to the achievement of SDG number 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for Zimbabwe’s youth.

Gender Strategy:

This program has no explicit gender focus, young men and women are expected to benefit equally from the program.

#condomShame

25 August 2017 – Diversity on Campus.

Aims:

To understand what diversity in higher education means
To share experiences of diverse groups in tertiary institutions
To facilitate a process of learning to encourage acceptance and acknowledgement of differences as part of fair and equal treatment of students

What is diversity?

Diversity can be defined as the sum of the ways that people are both alike and different. Diversity in education represents a broad range of ideas and initiatives to create learning environments that are safe, inclusive and equitable for as many identities as possible. Recognizing, fostering and developing sensitivity to the needs of people in various identity categories are primary aims of educational diversity.

Types of diversity:

Gender
Racial
Ethnic
Socio-economic
Physical Ability
Sexual Orientation

Experiences of diverse populations:

Campus Environment: Feelings of safety?
(social experiences) Feelings of belonging?
- Feelings of inclusion?
- Harassment?
- Discrimination?
- Cyber Bullying?

Classroom Environment: Feelings of inclusion?

Discrimination?
Bullying?
Free access to classes or activities?

8 September 2017 – Sex, alcohol and drug abuse on campus.

Development Objectives

To raise awareness on dangers associated with drug and substance abuse.
To reduce alcohol and drug related problems on campuses.

Program details and rationale

Partying, drinking and using drugs are common experiences on college campuses in Zimbabwe. For most young people, tertiary education also brings a newfound sense of freedom as they are solely responsible for decisions that affect their day to day life. This freedom culminates in a greater risk of students developing abusive habits during their college years.

The panel discussion is intended to educate young adults on the specific risks of activities and environments involving drugs and alcohol abuse. Furthermore, the meeting is expected to ensure safety students and their fellows.

Expected outputs and results.

To make students more responsible when using drugs and alcohol.
To increase their awareness of specific risks of abusing drugs and alcohol.

Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The panel discussion will contribute to the achievement of SDG number 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for Zimbabwe’s youth. Also, the discussion will contribute to the achievement of SDG 4 of ensuring in promoting quality education and lifelong learning.

Gender Strategy:

This program has no explicit gender focus, young men and women are expected to benefit equally from the program.

Hashtags

#CampusConversations

#AboveTheInfluence

#SucceedSober

Talking Points:

What have been the trends of alcohol and drug abuse in Zimbabwe campuses over the past 5 years?
What are the common substances found on campuses?
What are the risks associated with these common substances? / how can they affect one’s college life?
How are STI’s, suicides, dropouts and crime associated with alcohol and drug abuse
Where do students access drugs and alcohol?
How do we recognise a substance addiction?
Where can students with alcohol and drug addiction get help?
Is it really possible to enjoy college and actually succeed sober?

22 September 2017 – Transactional sex and relationships on campus.

Development Objectives

To create understanding of what transactional relationships are.
To raise awareness on dangers associated with transactional relationships and sex on campus.
To reduce problems related to transactional sex & relationships campuses such as sexual harassment, HIV/ STI’s and unwanted pregnancies.

Program details and rationale

“Thigh for a mark,” “blesser,” “fuck boy,” “trophy partner,” and “bae allowance” are popular phrases that point to transactional relationships on campus. Transactional relationships and sex are a common practice in Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions. These kinds of relationships are believed to be contributing to unsafe and inequitable sexual practices by researchers. Many of these relationships are inscribed across differences of wealth, age and status that intersect with gender in multiple, complex ways, it is argued that these may be exacerbating unsafe and coercive sexual practices among this group of young people (Tersha, Clowes and Vergani: 2012). Some have linked transactional sex practices with disproportionately high rates of HIV among young women (15-24) in sub-Saharan Africa. Young women have HIV rates 2x that of young men.

The panel discussion is intended to educate young adults, male and female, on the specific risks of engaging in transactional relationships

Expected outputs and results.

To help students make smart relationship choices
To increase their awareness of specific risks of engaging in transactional sex.

Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gender Strategy:

This program has no explicit gender focus, young men and women are expected to benefit equally from the program.

Talking Points:

Defining transactional relationships and sex?
What are the determinants of transactional relationships?
Conceptualizing transactional sex.
What are the risks associated with transactional sex?
What can young women and men in colleges do to protect themselves if: They are victims of such a relationship; They are agents of such a relationship.
What can we do about transactional sex and relationships?

6 October 2017 – Compulsive sexual behaviour on campus

Development Objectives

To raise awareness on dangers associated with compulsive sexual behaviour.
To reduce problems associated with compulsive sexual behaviour on campuses.

Program details and rationale

Compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB) is a term that characterizes repetitive and intense preoccupations with sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviours that are distressing to the individual and/or result in psychosocial impairment.

CSB is characterized by sexual desires, which include compulsive sexual acts with multiple partners, constant ﬁxation on a partner who may be considered unobtainable, compulsive masturbation, compulsive use of pornography, and compulsive sex and sexual acts within a consensual relationship.

CSB is thought to be associated with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV infection, unintended pregnancies, viewing of pornography on campus, at home and extensive cybersex users who use the Internet to seek partners. Thus, the WHO believes that it is clinically useful to view CSB as being related to other disorders that are also characterized by repeated failures to resist impulses, drives, or urges despite long-term harm. In 2014, a Cambridge University study found that pornography triggers brain activity in sex addicts in the same way drugs trigger drug addicts.

The panel discussion is intended to raise students’ awareness on CSB. The World Health Organisation believes that diagnoses, such as CSB, that aﬀect public health should be recognized. Furthermore, the meeting is expected to discourage repetitive sexual disorders.

Expected outputs and results.

To make students aware of CSB and its related disorders.
To lower physical and mental health problems related to CSB on Campus.

Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gender Strategy:

This program has no explicit gender focus, young men and women are expected to benefit equally from the program.

Hashtags

#CampusConversations

#AboveTheInfluence

#CSB

Talking Points:

What is CSB?
What are the symptoms of CSB?
How much sex is too much sex?
How is it related to other addictions?
How is CSB linked to other medical complications and social problems such as STIs, depression, anxiety, sexual harassment and poor performance at school?
How can students suffering from CSB reclaim their lives?
How can CSB’s affect around you?
Where can students get help if they or a friend is exhibiting symptoms of CSB?
What kind of diagnosis and treatment is available for those with CSB to reclaim their lives?

20 October 2017 – Breast Cancer Awareness on Campus

Development Objectives

To raise awareness on early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.
To influence the formation of plans of action and strategies for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Program details and rationale

Clinical evidence reveals that breast cancer at a younger age has a greater likelihood of death owing to delayed diagnosis of the disease. Therefore, higher rates of breast cancer in younger age demand early intervention.

Targeting adolescents and young women is very crucial for the success of early prevention efforts because they are a major proportion of the population. Youths are very receptive to information, therefore health behaviours established at this phase of life are most likely to be continued.

The panel discussion is intended to addresslack of screening in colleges, lack of diagnostic facilities, lack of prompt decision making and general ignorance on early detection of breast cancer.

Expected outputs and results.

To foster a culture of routine screening and regular monitoring of breast cancer.
Enactment of plans of action and strategies of breast cancer detection on campuses.

Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gender Strategy:

This program has no explicit gender focus, young men and women are expected to benefit equally from the program.

Hashtags

#CampusConversations

#BreastcancerAwareness

Suggested Panelists.

Health practitioner.
Female student knowledgeable engaged in Health promotion activities.
Psychologist knowledgeable on breast cancer treatment.

Talking Points:

What are the risk factors associated with breast cancer?
What are the Myths associated with breast cancer (wearing a bra?)
Demonstrate breast cancer self examination
Treatment and diagnosis in colleges(where do students get access diagnostic facilities? expenses? social and academic impact)
How does breast cancer affect sexuality?
Preventive measures and habits to mitigate incidence of breast cancer.
What plans of action and strategies for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer can be enacted on campuses.

3 November 2017 – Sexual Harassment on Campus

The session began with a keynote presentation by Dr. S. Kamusoro, The Dean of Students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), who dwelt much on defining what sexual harassment means and what constitutes sexual harassment. The Dean’s presentation gave an exceptional background in framing the scope of sexual harassment and the discussions that followed thereof. With examples and graphic depictions, and demonstrations, she defined and disintegrated sexual harassment into four categories, as follows;
i. Visual sexual harassment
ii. Verbal sexual harassment
iii. Writing/written sexual harassment
iv. Physical sexual harassment.
She defined sexual harassment as any unwarranted sexual advance. She highlighted available structures that are meant to protect students from sexual harassment and do compensatory justice for victimised students. She also explained the protocol of reporting sexual harassment as she argued that most students were ignorant thereof. She also added that student are not aware of the sexual harassment acts that are even on the university websites, and the toll-free number that NUST recently introduced.

Panel Discussion on Sexual Harassment
The panel was made of a student victim (T. Zulu), student activist (W. Bwanya), NUST Dean of students (Dr. S. Kamusoro) and a professional expert (S. Mnkandla). It was moderated by Tafadzwa Mhepoh(Publisher, CampusMoments.org). The formation of the panel was balanced such that the traffic of ideas i.e. there was no problems-solutions gap. Most of the questions/issues that were responded to during the panel discussion were a response to the presentation by the Dean of Students.

The victim began by narrating her unfortunate circumstance where she was sexually harassed by a lecturer through what was termed ‘osmosis flow of power’. Among other things, this led to imperative solutions that can assist students in their plight to avoid being victims.

The solutions were as follows:

i. Both parties (students and the administration) were urged to take any allegations seriously to tem any continuous trend of victimisation of students.
ii. It was suggested that administrations should establish direct systems of reporting i.e. getting rid of unnecessary bureaucracies.
iii. Universities were also urged to rethink the powers they give to lecturers.

Save the dates

14 July 2017 – Tackling the Condom Shame

25 August 2017 – Diversity on Campus.

8 September 2017 – Sex, alcohol and drug abuse on campus.

22 September 2017 – Transactional sex and relationships on campus.

6 October 2017 – Compulsive sexual behaviour on campus

20 October 2017 – Breast Cancer Awareness on Campus

3 November 2017 – Sexual Harassment on Campus

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