Boston University researchers Luis Amaral and H. Eugene Stanley revealed that HIV spreads through an intricate network that almost every sexually active person can be connected to. They have constructed a model to track the spread of HIV.
Students said they weren’t particularly surprised by Amaral and Stanley’s results.
College of Arts and Sciences senior Emily Lyman said she doesn’t understand the purpose of such a study.
“Even if you understand it’s a network disease, it’s not particularly useful,” said Lyman who believes people should change their sexual practices.
However, some students said sex-related studies need to be done to help prevent the spread of HIV.
“It shows people how close to it they are,” said CAS senior Elizabeth Pratt.
CAS senior Agnieszka Kusmierska said although the results of sex studies may seem normal to this generation, they may surprise future students.
“It’s important to repeat it to the younger generation,” Kusmierska said.
The results of a 1994 Swedish study, which surveyed 2,810 people, reported that the average number of sexual partners for men is 15 and women is 7.5
“I’ve heard these numbers before,” said College of General Studies sophomore Adam Herfurth who said he has read similar studies from different countries.
“I really don’t know about the men’s one, I would have thought it would be lower, but I think the women’s one would be about right,” Pratt said.
CAS junior Marcos Delchef agreed he didn’t think the men’s number was right, and said men generally exaggerate their number of sexual partners and women downplay theirs.
Most students were surprised that one man reported having 800 sexual partners.
“All I can say is ‘wow’,” said Delchef.
“I think 600 or 800 people is pretty outrageous,” said CAS junior Maren Bordewieck. “There are people who have never had sex.”
Kusmierska said she didn’t think the participant who reported having 800 partners exaggerated. She also said having 600 partners, which was reported by one participant, is definitely a possibility.
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