|
You are viewing
Volume 40, Issue 3
September 24, 2002
To return to the current issue please
click here.
|
 |
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
Students
find new outlets for condoms—flavors & all
By Ian Schwartz
For the Mesa Legend
"Trojan Man!"
This popular ad slogan is used to sell one of America's top brands of
condoms.
Condoms are familiar to most, either through sexual education, commercials,
play ground jokes, or included in the "birds and the bees" speech
given by parents.
The condom, Latin for receptacle, has come a long way being seen in Egypt
1000 B.C.; and it exists presently at MCC in 2002.
The condom has been found to be very useful against the spread of disease,
but it would be many years until it was used as a form of birth control.
What does any of this have to do with community college students?
Everything! It came to the attention of the Mesa Legend staff that new
condom machines were being put into place around the campus.
Condom machines were first introduced in June of 1989, when vendor Ken
Wansly approached head of maintenance, Rudy Mendez.
"The age group was important and at risk. The AIDS issue was also
coming into light, so I thought it was a good idea." said Mendez
on why he decided to put the machines around campus.
Recently MCC has commissioned a new vendor, JES vending, whose supplier
is out of Denver.
June Smith, owner of JES vending installed the machines at the start of
the school year.
There are a total of six machines located across campus in both the men
and the women's bathrooms.
Students can access these condom machines in the Kirk Center, the Physical
Science building, and the Multi-use lab which is located south of the
cashier's office.
The new machines were emptied for the first time this year on Friday the
13th.
The results of condom use were interesting.
Each machine houses two brands of condom, Lifestyles and Tropical Breeze
flavored condoms, for those with refined tastes.
When full the machines can carry up to 60 condoms, costing $.75 a piece.
The results of condom purchases are as follows: the men's bathroom in
the Kirk Center was just about empty with more than 40 condoms bought.
The women's bathroom had a little more than half sold with, around 30
condoms.
The Physical Science building's results were different, with none being
purchased in the men's room, and roughly 20 in the women's room.
As for the multi-use lab, not many were sold in the three week period.
Without a doubt, the Kirk Center is the high traffic area, with the most
condoms being purchased.
In an interview, many students were surprised that condoms were available
on campus.
"I had no idea the school had them, but I think it's a good thing
with all of the disease out there," said Peter Blanchard, MCC student.
Another question was would students trust a condom that came from a machine.
"I wouldn't have a problem buying a condom out of the machine on
campus as long as it was sealed and looked okay," said Andrew Vaia,
sophomore at MCC.
Not all students agreed of the reliability of a machine condom.
Freshman, Lindsey Ruck said, "If I was going to buy them, I would
go to the store, just because they are in a box and not a metal dispenser."
What ever the case, it is important that those who are sexually active
have access to condoms even if it is at school.
There is no sign of AIDS or STD's slowing down among college students,
and condoms are an effective way to protect against both.
Back to Top
| Previous Page | Home
|
|
|
