Condom Dispensers in Colleges
The rise of HIV/AIDS is a significant concern for most people, especially young people. It is for this reason that Camden County College decided to fix condom dispensers in restrooms. However, parents, teachers, and students have contradicted each other in their opinion concerning this move by the school. The college seeks to address the AIDS crisis while enhancing protection and creating awareness for the learners. Many oppose how the school wants to implement this move, but most people agree with the institution’s intention of shielding young learners from the consequences of engaging in unprotected sex. Nonetheless, everybody should support Camden County College’s decision to install condom dispensers in restrooms. This move allows students ashamed to buy or request condoms in public places to access them conveniently. In essence, this decision promotes safe sex among learners, and the opposing views, mostly religious, lack sufficient proof to disregard the move.
Condoms are essential in promoting safe sex among young people. Thus, availing them in restrooms promotes safe sex among students and encourage them to create similar awareness to other youths. Many young people have had to deal with the dire consequences of unprotected sex because they were scared to purchase condoms in public facilities. Studies reveal that most youths and adults are often embarrassed to buy condoms, which indicates that buying condoms is a private matter, and doing it exposes one’sone’s intentions. Young learners are the majority in this category, and they are vulnerable to practicing unprotected sex. One study reports that most teenagers between sixteen and nineteen years old feel embarrassed to buy condoms, while sixty-five percent find it difficult (Winterman 1). Moreover, this research shows that fifty-percent of young people between twenty and thirty years old reported similar feelings as teenagers.
As such, being unable to purchase condoms in a significant concern among young students, but this does not hinder them from having sex. As a result, many end up engaging in unprotected sex. Therefore, the decision by Camden County College is recommendable since it recognizes this concern and has installed the condom dispensers in restrooms is essential in addressing this issue. Additionally, installing condom dispensers in the school will help to raise awareness among all learners. Several social groups and organizations educate youths about the merits of safe sex and the dangers of disregarding this knowledge. However, most young people do not regard these warnings, and thus physical resources or means to adhere to are necessary. Young students with concerns about sexual encounters and infections find school a safe place to raise these questions and receive further knowledge about these topics.
Most people learn about themselves in colleges, and that involves having relationships. Thus the institutions become a haven for youths with questions regarding birth control, STDs, and HIV/AIDS (Haven 1). Furthermore, many sexually active teenagers, especially ladies without money or knowledge about protection using other birth control means and devices, find condoms a cheaper and safer alternative. Thus, installing condom dispensers in restrooms will be helpful to such students. Few girls have education about birth control devices and pills, but most of them understand how to use condoms. Therefore, the college’s decision to install condom dispensers will be crucial in protecting such vulnerable students from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. That will enhance the school’s move to promote safe sex among students.
The concerns raised by those opposing this decision to install condom dispensers in restrooms, mostly from religious people, lack sufficient proof to dispute the benefits of this move by the school. Several religious people and other conservatives question the message this decision sends to learners. They argue that availing condoms so freely promotes promiscuity among students. As noted by Berger (1), many parents are offended by the regular advertising of condoms on television and the subsequent distribution in colleges. They feel that such moves create an environment of sexual permissiveness. The majority of conservative parents prefer abstinence campaigns on campuses as intervention measures to protect young students from dangerous unprotected sex. However, studies indicate that abstinence-only campaigns are often ineffective, especially among young people. Sundial notes that the “Abstinence Only of the 2000s contributed to the rise in seroconversions” (1). Thus, alternative protective measures became necessary.
There have been controversies concerning the move to install condom dispensers in restrooms in Camden County College. However, it is a positive move by the institution since it encourages safe sexual practices and consequently mitigates the threat of students contracting sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. Several people have expressed displeasure at the school’s decision arguing that it promotes promiscuity among students. However, studies indicate that majority of college learners are sexually active, and thus abstinence campaigns alone are not effective in educating them about sexual activities and possible consequences. Moreover, people should prioritize the health and safety concerns of students over religious beliefs. Thus, despite the objections of parents, the college’s objective in installing condom dispensers in restrooms addresses the learners’ health concerns. Also, several students are embarrassed to buy condoms in public places and end up practicing unprotected sex. To such students, condom dispensers will benefit them financially and educate them on issues like HIV/AIDS and safe sex. Although not every student will use the dispensers, their presence with enhancing the learners’learners’ awareness of the benefits of using condoms.