By Magan Mitchell/reporter

Students learned at a workshop on sexually transmitted diseases they cannot get STDs from a toilet seat, but they can get herpes from a handshake if the stranger’s hand has come into contact with an open wound.

Roughly 20 students attended and cracked jokes about the subject Nov. 2 while attending the TR Campus luncheon.

Jesse Contreras, a risk reduction specialist from the AIDS Outreach Center, discussed sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of getting tested.

Pamphlets were distributed to provide further information on symptoms and plans of action.

In a 15-minute presentation, Contreras introduced different sexually transmitted diseases along with the symptoms. For example, he said human papillomavirus is more dangerous for women who can develop cervical cancer if left untreated. Men can also carry HPV, but the disease often lies dormant.

Syphilis often mimics other diseases, and gonorrhea causes men great pain when most women don’t even know if they carry it, he said.

“Glad I’m a virgin,” one student said.

The small audience laughed.

Some students left wanting a little more.

“I wish he would have had some visual aids,” TR student Anita Weddle said.

When asked what he wanted students to get out of the workshop, Contreras said, “Get tested.”