If you turn on the TV now and again, you’ve likely seen the Trojan Condoms’ “Evolve” commercials, encouraging couples to practice safe sex. The simple ads are part of a larger campaign that involves a comedy tour and interactive Web site videos aimed at raising awareness and reducing what they call a “sexual health crisis” in America.

Also part of their campaign, Trojan recently published its third annual “Sexual Health Report Card,” produced by a private research organization, Sperling’s BestPlaces. The study rated 139 colleges and universities throughout the United States on 13 factors related to the campus’ performance in providing comprehensive information about sexual health.

Falling far behind the fourth-ranked University of Iowa on the study, Iowa State claimed a disappointingly low ranking of 96 in the study. Iowa State also received a comparatively low sexual health “GPA” score, a discouraging 2.48.

Although the findings don’t look good for Iowa State, our health center and the respective sexual health programs, or lack thereof on our campus, the broken up 13 categories offer some insight to the grading. We’d like to applaud Iowa State for earning “B” grades in five of the categories, including Web site usability and condom provision, the latter probably the result of the Free Condom Wednesday program. However, “F” ratings in other categories, such as on-site HIV testing and anonymous sexual health advice by e-mail or column, dragged Iowa State’s GPA down.

Judging by Trojan’s findings, Iowa State may want to step it up a little. While a 2.48 doesn’t put Iowa State on academic probation, it’s not a grade to post on the refrigerator. Roughly 88 percent of respondents to the study’s survey said that sexual health at Iowa State needs improvement, and we agree. We encourage the university to pat themselves on the back for their efforts in categories they excel in, but to take their low rating overall as a catalyst for action. For the betterment of sexual health on our campus, let’s see our name closer to the top of the ratings next year.

After all, if the University of Iowa can garner a fourth-place rating, there’s just really no excuse.