Thao Nguyen learned about sex through television shows, movies and conversations with friends.As a high school student, she was enrolled in a health class. And in the class, commonly referred to as “sex-ed” by sexually curious teens, Nguyen said the topic of sex was condensed into one small lecture — delivered in the form of a movie.”We watched a movie about syphilis,” the biology sophomore said. “They didn’t talk about [sex]. I learned about it mostly from TV and friends.”Louisiana receives $1.6 million annually in federal funding for the “multi-faceted approach consisting of an abstinence-only curriculum for junior high, high school and college age students,” according to the Louisiana Governor’s Program on Abstinence Web site.Robert Hogan, political science professor, said this approach is unlikely to shift despite a Democratic majority in the state Legislature.”We have a governor who is very supportive of social conservatives,” Hogan said. “The political environment is one where Republicans are trying to gain traction. Louisiana is [a state] where things are going pretty well for Republicans.”Hogan called the debate over sex in schools part of “what some people refer to as the culture war.””This is one of those issues that is like prayer in school,” Hogan said.The Governor’s Program on Abstinence and similar Louisiana programs received more than $2 million in federal funds in the 2007 fiscal year, according to data from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. Louisiana law dictates that sexual education classes must promote “abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the standard for all school-age children,” according to the SIECUS Web site.Julie Mickelberry, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta, criticized the current system and called for a comprehensive approach to sexual education.”The abstinence until marriage program is not working,” Mickelberry said. “The abstinence-only until marriage approach doesn’t give teens tools to make the decisions that they’re going to need to make … The current program really leaves teens in the dark about how to prevent an unintended pregnancy or an unintended [sexually transmitted disease].”Loren Marks, human ecology professor, said in an e-mail that STDs are a major consideration when encouraging abstinence.”The National Institutes of Heath reports that several STDs — including HPV — can be transmitted by skin to skin contact,” Marks wrote. “In other words, condoms are inadequate protection against these diseases … Condoms are far better than nothing, but they are inadequate in some cases. To be direct, available research indicates that there is no ‘safe sex.'”Grant George, English junior, said STDs were the only aspect of sex his high school’s course discussed.While President Obama has not taken a definitive stance on sexual education, he is committed to “common-sense measures,” according to Mickelberry.”My hope is that the administration and Congress will not continue to fund the abstinence-only until marriage program,” Mickelberry said. “We’re wasting a lot of money on programming that leads teens into the dark.”—-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected]