Editorial: Condoms machines a struggle to get up

Organizations fought long and hard to get dispensers installed.

Published May 7, 2009

In 2006, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity began a campaign to install condom dispensers in residence halls. This seemingly simple task stretched into a two-year struggle involving several student organizations and thousands of dollars.

Although the fraternity’s original goal to install dispensers on each floor of every residence hall wasn't accomplished, something was finally done about a sexual health issue that could have been resolved two years earlier.

The current condom dispenser situation isn't perfect. Although they were just installed in December, multiple dispensers remain continuously empty. Others are now broken. But we'll take a partially working condom plan over no condoms at all.

The amount of student involvement needed to address the issue was surprising. Chancellor Brady Deaton was clear the university wouldn't fund the program, and he left the funding up to students.

This campus has student organizations, not the administration, to thank for the latest development in the condom saga.