College AIDS Policy Report to Be Revised

Ventura County Community College trustees wrangled this week with revised AIDS guidelines that leave many of the tough decisions on condom distribution and educational issues up to the individual colleges.

While four of the five board members seemed eager to approve the guidelines--about two years in the making--and move on, Trustee Karen Boone said she would like to see the new rules place more emphasis on prevention of the deadly disease.

“I don’t see the emphasis on prevention, but more on just talking about (AIDS),” she said. “I’d like to see more action-oriented guidelines.”

Boone’s suggestions will go back to a task force that devised the guidelines. Task force members will prepare a final version for the board to vote on next month.

The 18-member AIDS task force is composed of district staff, faculty, administrators and students, as well as members of the community.

The guidelines call on each campus to devise AIDS-related educational programs that “include the consideration of such issues as abstinence, healthy behaviors, safer sex practices, condoms, etc.”

The college district has been revising its guidelines and policy on acquired immune deficiency syndrome since 1991, when some trustees challenged the district’s existing policy endorsing condom-dispensing machines in college restrooms. The trustees approved the current AIDS policy in August, but the guidelines are meant to expand that.

“There’s just no way we’re going to be able to satisfy every social and political agenda surrounding AIDS,” said Trustee Timothy Hirschberg, as the board’s debate dragged on Tuesday night. “I don’t want to see this board become further captivated--and even shanghaied--by certain issues.”