Condoms might soon be sold in dorm vending machines, allowing students to get protection at all hours without facing the uncomfortable prospect of asking for them.
The condoms should be in the existing vending machines at Bobb Hall and Allison Hall by the end of the quarter, said SESP senior Jessica Joslin, co-chairwoman of the committee planning the condom sales. The committee includes faculty and staff members as well as about six students, appointed through Associated Student Government. Sales from these two dorms will be used to decide if the program is popular enough to expand to other dorms.
Free condoms are available now at Health Education at Searle Student Health Service. The university buys about 15,000 condoms a year, said Dr. Donald Misch, director of health services.
But Searle is closed by 5:30 p.m. each day, and all day Sunday.
“You can’t rely on them being open in the middle of the night,” Misch said.
Some students also might be embarrassed to ask a health services worker for the condoms, said Leah Witt, co-chairwoman of the committee.
“We wanted to find a way for the condoms not to pass through an intermediary,” said Witt, a Weinberg junior.
Condoms in the vending machines would be available 24 hours a day. Arrangements with vendors and prices are still being negotiated in an effort to subsidize the cost, Misch said. He said they will probably cost about $2.25 for a pack of three.
Currently the committee is looking at different types of Lifestyles condoms. Lifestyles Classic Collection Ultra Sensitive Lubricated was one of the seven highest-rated models, according to a 2005 Consumers Union report.
The committee will use the pilot program to determine the value of putting condoms in more dispensers, or if the condoms will expire before they are sold. Condoms are currently sold in restrooms at Norris University Center, and committee members said there is concern those vending machines are not used very often. Users should always check the expiration date, no matter where the condoms come from, Misch said.
Nobody has challenged the project, Witt said.
“Everybody in the administration that we’ve talked to has been really supportive of the idea,” she said.
Community Assistants were previously given free condoms to give to residents, but that policy was ended because some CAs might be uncomfortable distributing them, Misch said. Students trying to get condoms also might wake up CAs, or the CAs might be away from their rooms, he said.
“We don’t want to put up barriers for people taking care of themselves,” Misch said.
Reach Diana Samuels at [email protected].
