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2008 GPA-C Convention
Collegiate representatives for abstinence gather at LSU
The third annual GPA College Convention was held at LSU on Saturday, April 5. Grambling, LSU, LSU-E, McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Xavier University were represented.
The keynote speaker was youth advocate Sidney Hidalgo (right below). A favorite of GPA youth, Sidney is a dynamic speaker, with invitations from numerous schools, camps, and youth organizations. Sidney addressed the myths of cohabitation using a reference to the line from the movie A Sixth Sense, “I see dead people.”:
 “People believe myths about cohabitation. One is ‘by living together we can see how well we get along.’ Cohabitation often changes the way you feel about marriage. Another is ‘it’s OK for us to live together because we are committed to one another.’ However, cohabitation undermines commitment. Affairs are two times as common among cohabitating couples as married. The third thing that people believe is ‘we will be less likely to divorce.’ This is true because 40% of cohabitating couples never get married and of the 60% that get married, 50% end up divorced. If you want your relationship to last, why increase your risk that it won’t? And finally, people say, ‘But we will be happier and we won’t feel tied down.’ Studies show that married couples have fewer disagreements than people that live together. Cohabitating couples have higher rates of domestic violence. The bottom line is that it’s easy to get out; and you’re not committed. I see a dead philosophy. I see people going down a dead end. I see dead people.”
Students Jonathan Tattum, Mandie Cantrell, Robert Fontenot, and Ashley Scioneaux shared personal experiences regarding living an abstinent lifestyle on their campuses.
“I’ve been involved with GPA since my freshman year in high school,” said Grambling student Shelton Berry. “I want to get a GPA club going at Grambling.”
Elections were held for state officers. Seated from the left in the above photo, the newly elected officers are John Voltz (LSU), treasurer; Jonathan Tatum (Grambling), regional vice-chairperson for Northern Louisiana; LaShina Finley (Xavier University), chairperson; Mandie Cantrell (Southeastern), vice-chairman; and Robert Fontenot (Southeastern), secretary. Standing, second row, fourth and fifth from left are Michael Richard and Casey Connell Baton Rouge Co-regional Chairs.
“This year GPAC will be on the move,” said Chairperson LaShina Finley. “We will reach more of our goals and work to get the message out to the other colleges. I have a great staff that is fully motivated to work. This year is going to be awesome!”
GPA State Director Gail Dignam addressed the issue of pornography use which has become more prevalent on campuses. “Our country is being destroyed from within by the pursuit of pleasure that makes the minds of our youth passive,” Dignam said. “Pornography addiction gives the user a high, and causes him to seek out more and more images that are increasingly graphic until images alone no longer do the trick. Without treatment, the user eventually seeks to bring the images to life in order to obtain a new high.”
“You are the warriors who must change the culture,” Dignam told students.
 
PHOTO GALLERY
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CURRICULUM CLIP
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Do not try to imitate the intimacy of marriage in dating. Sexual activity is never a shortcut to a good relationship. On the contrary, it prevents the relationship from growing and developing normally.
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