Op-Ed Call for condoms

Author: Ken Lazo

The Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) on campus recently began work on an initiative to provide free condom distribution in all dorms. As of now, free condoms are available at the Health Center and a few dorms. The new initiative would make condoms readily available in every bathroom of each dorm. The proposal is part of an effort to ensure that those who are sexually active will protect themselves. Additionally the SGAC is urging the College to assume a stronger position regarding safe-sex awareness on campus. The new proposal, however, raises several ethical and health concerns that warrant strong consideration by the student body and the administration.

Recently, the SGAC conducted a student survey on condom accessibility on campus. The results from the survey confirmed the SGAC's impressions on condom accessibility. Most importantly, students favored the proposed condom accessibility in the bathrooms.

The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the student body reaction to the proposed initiative. With the support of the student body, it seems that better condom accessibility would encourage a safer sexual environment within the student body and send a strong message that the college community is actively involved in promoting safe sex. However most of the concerns that arise with an endorsement of the college for better condom accessibility relate to ethics.

Some might argue that the appearance of condoms in the bathroom would encourage more people to have sex. It is a reasonable argument. The college is already a sexually active community. The addition of condoms to our local bathrooms could be the right stimulus to encourage sexually-frustrated, overworked students who have been left behind. Nevertheless, it is just unreasonable to consider an increase in safer sex as a sexual pandemic. Practically speaking, I fail to see where the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. The issue is safe sex.

Ken Lazo is a Feb in the Class of 2009. He hails from South Pasadena, California.