By snoadmin
The words “free condoms” rang through Maxson Plaza Wednesday afternoon as students passed out candy and condoms for National Condom Day. The event was set up by the Health Resource Center (HRC) as a way to raise awareness and promote safe sex.
Many students smiled or laughed as they passed the HRC table with posters of oral sex and condom facts. There was a great turnout of interested students, and many more took the free safe sex packets as they walked by.
Christina Goldpaint, the office supervisor for HRC, said students might seem embarrassed or surprised to see something so bold on campus, especially when it is planned by an official school service and not just a student group.
“It’s a lot more embarrassing to tell your partner you have an STD,” Goldpaint said.
A few students turned down the condoms with reasons like “I never use them,” “I got some, thanks,” or “I’m not having sex.” Despite that, peer educators Zach Woolfork and Antonya Jackson’s calls of “Free suckers! Free condoms!” drew in a number of students.
One student who bought a bouquet of roses from the next booth over grabbed a packet before going off to deliver the flowers. One student came back for more, asking if the condoms were water-based.
Another student walked straight to the booth from Brotman Hall.
“I knew it! I can see it in your eyes,” Jackson said, laughing as she handed him a packet.
“Oh, I forgot today was National Condom Day!” one student said, grabbing packets for her and her friend. The safe sex packets contained two condoms, a pouch of lubricant and step-by-step instructions on how to put a condom on correctly.
Goldpaint and the peer educators had other plans for the event as well.
“I have an assistant,” Goldpaint said, bringing out a silicone replica of a penis for a demonstration on the right way to wear a condom. “I’m just waiting for a bigger crowd.”
But was it a coincidence that National Condom Day fell on Valentine’s Day? It is a day where there is a pretty good chance that many people will be having sex, Goldpaint said.
Along with the condom packets, the booth had information regarding the HRC journal and offered sexual health packets, HIV/AIDS fliers, schedules of sexual health awareness workshops on campus and a brochure of all the HRC’s services.
