Community divides opinions
about condom distribution
By Ayall Sagi
Staff Writer
The Purdue community is split on the issue of whether
or not the Student Wellness Office should pass out condoms on campus
Wednesday.
"I don’t believe in premarital sex, and
we are all adults, and I don’t think it’s a good idea,"
said Kelly Goddard, a senior in the School of Agriculture.
She is not alone in her views. Another student
opposed to the handing out of condoms is Doug Smith, a sophomore in
the School of Technology. "I don’t’ like that the school
endorses something like that," he said. "I think that sex
is something you should save for marriage; Valentine’s Day isn’t
some sexual love holiday."
On the other side of the issue, there are students
who said they think handing out condoms is a good idea.
"I think it’s smart that they are trying
to do something to prevent problems such as STDs and unwanted pregnancies,"
said Chris Meisner, a sophomore in the School of Consumer and Family
Sciences.
Dave Gwyer, a sophomore in the School of Liberal
Arts, said most people are going to have sex regardless of whether people
hand out condoms. "I feel it’s better safe than sorry,"
he said.
Many people are opposed to the Student Wellness
Office passing out condoms on campus because they feel it promotes concepts
contrary to their religious beliefs such as premarital sex and the acceptability
of birth control.
"Sex should be reserved for marriage; there
is no need for condoms," said Pastor Daniel Davis from St. Thomas
Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue in offense of the handing out of free
condoms on Valentines Day. "This is inappropriate and gives people
permission to have sex outside of marriage."
Scott Butler, sexual health coordinator at the
Student Wellness Office, said the office’s goal is to promote healthy
lifestyles and behaviors for Purdue students.
"We want students to know that condoms are
not 100 percent effective but can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted
diseases and pregnancy," he said.
Davis said he is concerned that handing out condoms
may be more about inadvertently providing advertising for condom companies,
making it more about profit than student welfare. In reply to this,
Butler says that the Student Wellness Office distributes Lifestyles
brand condoms and that the office is not affiliated with any condom
vendor.
The procedure of handing out condoms is another
of Davis’ concerns. He said, "My hope would be that they would
also offer the opportunity to discuses alternatives to having sex."
In response, Butler said "the office promotes abstinence by distributing
brochures including its benefits in all sexual-health related programs."
Although Butler said he is trying to help students
by handing out condoms and making students aware of their sexual health
responsibilities, Davis said he still believes "just handing out
condoms makes the situation worse."
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