Student Push for ‘Safe Sex’ : Colleges Seek to Get Condom Machines

In an effort to promote “safe sex,” student governments at two community colleges are attempting to have condom vending machines installed in campus restrooms. They will be among a growing number of colleges and universities nationwide--and two other institutions of higher education in San Diego County--that are trying to combat sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.

Southwestern College in Chula Vista and Grossmont College in El Cajon have recently taken steps to install the vending machines in campus restrooms.

Southwestern is waiting for approval from its district governing board before the machines are installed. The campus’ student government and administration have already approved the measure, and the governing board is scheduled to take up the issue next month.

At Grossmont College, preliminary results of a recent survey of 500 students showed that 72% would like to see condom machines placed in campus restrooms.

“So far it appears that students are reacting positively to having the condom vending machines put in,” said Pete Kanelos, Associated Students vice president at Grossmont. “Once the survey is complete, we’re going to take the issue to the governing board in hopes of it being passed.”

Heightened Awareness

Kanelos said that, if the board agrees to the installation of the machines, the student government will seek to purchase or lease the machines right away.

AIDS awareness and the rise of unwanted pregnancies heightened the student government’s awareness of the need for condom availability, Kanelos said.

Southwestern students and staff view the issue more as a health concern than a moral one, said Norma Hernandez, vice president of student services.

At San Diego City College and at Mesa College, student governments have discussed the idea of installing condom vending machines, but have made no formal proposal.

Charles Reed, trustee board president for the San Diego Community College District, said he favored such a move and thought his colleagues on the board of trustees would also support it.

Unsuccessful Bid

Last summer, the San Diego State University Aztec Shop was unsuccessful in its bid to have condoms put in cigarette vending machines on campus. They were available in the machines for three weeks until they came to the attention of SDSU President Thomas Day, who ordered them removed. That decision angered students, who in recent weeks have tried unsuccessfully to persuade Day to reverse his stance, a spokeswoman at SDSU Health Services said.

UC San Diego has had condom vending machines on campus since October. The 10 machines are divided evenly between the men’s and women’s restrooms and packets sell for 50 cents each.

“The issue was initiated by the students,” said Jim Carruthers, UCSD director of University Center. “Because it’s a health issue, there was never a controversy. The administration agreed with the students from the start.”

MiraCosta College in Oceanside has had condom vending machines on campus since November.

“The student senate initiated the move and the board of trustees decided to let MiraCosta’s administration handle it,” said Bonnie Hall, MiraCosta public information officer.

With the threat of AIDS, students at MiraCosta felt that condom availability should not be limited to campus health services; many students are too shy to buy condoms over-the-counter, Hall said.

MiraCosta plans to have educational leaflets inserted in each condom packet explaining various sexually transmittable diseases and their prevention.