More condoms, safer sex

A group of Comm 132 students just released the results of an astonishing yet unscientific survey.

The students found that out of 272 students, 95 percent say they are sexually active and 71 percent say that they have had sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, substances that are all too common on college campuses.

The survey also included 62 of 1800 students living in the residence halls. Of these students, nearly two-thirds said they feel that condom dispensers are necessary in the residence halls.

The group of students said that if the dispensers are available 24 hours a day, dorm students would use them.

Whether you agree with the idea or not, it is not really all that bad. College students are likely to engage in high risk sexual activities regardless of if the campus offers protection or not.

Already the Student Heath Center offers free condoms to students. Why not take the extra step and put condom vending machines in the dorms. Maybe the campus could even turn a small profit from them?

Mike Lordanich said that many of those surveyed told him that they don't use condoms because they don't plan on having sex but then get in a situation where they end up having unprotected sex. Lordanich said that if condom dispensers were available, students would be more likely to use them.

Naturally, the university will not be anxious to install these dispensers in the residence halls for fear of looking like it is encouraging students to have premarital relations.

But the reality is that this is happening on campus, in dorm rooms and it isn't going to stop. In fact, this survey also showed that almost half of those surveyed said they have not been tested for sexually transmitted diseases because of laziness, fear or lack of time.

That is the really scary revelation of this survey. In this day and age of HIV, AIDS, herpes and all the other STDs out there, to know that at least 132 out of nearly 30,000 students on this campus are sexually active and have not been tested.

That alone is reason for the addition of condom dispensers. The university already offers free condoms and free STD testing in the Health Center. Far too few students utilize these services, but they are available.

Whatever the case, something needs to be done. Now that we see this happening on campus, however limited the scope, administrators may realize the need to expand this survey in order to better serve, inform and protect their students.