College poster campaign takes 'hook-up' culture to task

Washington D.C., Sep 3, 2014 / 16:07 pm

A poster campaign distributed at 25 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Mexico calls students to question the predominance of 'hook-ups' and assures students there are healthy alternatives to the culture often promoted by university orientations.

"Expect more. That's our stand. Are you in good hands?" read the posters, sponsored and distributed by the Love and Fidelity Network.

"At this time when students are transitioning into college and are often expected to participate in the hook-up culture by default, we want these posters to encourage students to think critically about their decisions," said Caitlin (Seery) La Ruffa, director of the Love and Fidelity Network.

"Instead of portraying the hook-up culture as inherently integral to collegiate life as orientation programs often do, we hope to spark discussion and give support to students seeking a healthier alternative."

The poster campaign is part of a larger series of programing meant to help counteract the prevalence of the hook-up culture – a dominant social script on college campuses and young adult communities that promotes noncommittal physical encounters.

The posters and upcoming speeches and talks highlight the hook-up culture's impact on relationships and the family, counteracting tacit support of hook-ups by many college administrations.

A prevalence of hook-ups among college students, the programing's experts say, make the maintenance of healthy relationships more difficult, and raise the risk of anxiety, depression, and sexual assault among a campus population.

"College freshmen often come to campus looking forward to the best four years of their life," La Ruffa said.

"But campus orientations all too often do not set students up for successful and happy relationships. We believe that students deserve to hear a different message, and to know that there can be an alternative to the hook-up culture that can leave students unfulfilled, used, and unhappy."