The MTSU Department of Health and Human Performance, in collaboration with Student Health Services and Cengage Learning, will sponsor the 11th annual Tunnel of Love to raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building.

Planned Parenthood, Nashville C.A.R.E.S. and the Rutherford County Health Department are a few of the organizations that will be on hand to provide information and literature about the health consequences of untreated gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and other illnesses. Free HIV testing also will be provided.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 19 million new STD infections each year in the United States. According to the latest data available from the CDC (2009), sexually active teens and young adults are at greater risk for STD infection than older adults.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Casie Higginbotham, instructor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, at 615-904-8274 or chigginb@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)