The Office of Student Life is pleased to announce the creation of a new LLLS position called “Peer Educator”. This position supports Corbin Moro and Russell Martin in providing support from Health Services. The aim of this position is to give students at Franklin another resource and outlet to have both formal and informal conversations about health-related concerns, promote resources on campus, and host events with the aim of increasing education around topics such as sexual health and consent, drug and alcohol use, mental health, and healthy lifestyle choices.
The first endeavor of peer-to-peer education this semester, in conjunction with a group of students who volunteered to participate, was a series of informal conversations during the new student orientation program covering the topics of the importance of consent, sexual health, healthy relationships, and the transition to college life. While covering tough subject matters, the conversations went very well, and incoming students expressed gratitude to the facilitators for holding space for this sensitive and necessary conversation.
The aim of these informal conversations, and future programs sponsored by Health Services and the Peer Educators, is to unpack the stigma surrounding talking about healthy sexual decisions and consent, particularly on a college campus. With respect to the fact that Franklin is a culturally diverse institution, new students with a variety of backgrounds are brought together each semester. It is the view of the greater student body that in order to keep our campus community mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy, these conversations are integral.
This LLLS position will be further developed so students are trained in providing peer-to-peer support and can hold office hours where other students are able to drop in with questions, concerns, or the need for another student to listen. Programming that will follow the general themes will begin this semester with a sex education talk, to be delivered by Chris Schmid, Coordinator of Student Medical Services.