University faculty and staff encourage students to have safe sex

The health center went through about 81,000 condoms during the last  school year.
Whether the condoms are lubricated, flavored, ribbed or colored, Trojan, Durex, LifeStyles or ONE brand, students are definitely using them.

"[Condoms] couldn't be much more available," said Alli Matson, the University Health Center's sexual health program coordinator.

The health center offers them in baskets on the ground, first and second floors and can provide one bulk package containing 50 condoms every month to student organizations and resident assistants and directors. She also said the health center provides condoms for special events, as long as the number requested is within reason.

The first-floor desk at the center goes through about 1,000 to 1,500 condoms each week, and although students will use a variety of condoms, Matson said she noticed that many seem intrigued by the ONE brand condoms because they come in a variety of wrappers and colors.

Some of the more interesting condoms ONE offers are the Glowing Pleasures condom, which can glow for up to 30 minutes after 30 seconds of light exposure, and the Pleasure Dome condom, which ONE's website claims "creates a larger zone of comfort and pleasure for both of you" by providing a larger head size.

But not all students are amused by these condoms.

Sophomore communication major Brigid McCabe said, "I kinda look at ONE condoms a little less respectfully because I've seen weird purple ones."

Others, in typical college-student fashion, just want whichever condoms are least expensive.

Xavier, 18, who asked that his last name be withheld, said he'll use whatever condoms are cheapest. He always has a condom on him if he's looking to have sex because he feels it's the man's responsibility to provide them.

"Say I show up without a condom. I'll be sad later that I wasn't prepared," because women are less likely to have sex without one, Xavier said.

McCabe, however, said she often provides her own condoms.

She said she thinks women should be just as responsible for carrying condoms because it gives them the power to decide if they will have safe sex and incorporate things that women enjoy, such as ribbed condoms or vibrating condoms.

While ribbed condoms like Trojan's Her Pleasure appeal to some women, such as McCabe, some men are also interested in specialty condoms.

Xavier said he'd like to try the Trojan Ecstasy condoms, which feature deep ribs at both ends of the condom, which could provide a more comfortable fit than traditional condoms and is one of a number of condoms that are lubricated on the inside and outside, according to the Trojan website.

LifeStyles also offers a condom that is lubricated on both the inside and outside called the LifeStyles X2. This condom is lubricated with ExciteGel, a stimulating gel, according to the LifeStyles website.

Leon, 20, who asked that his last name be withheld, said despite the more interesting condoms that are put out by other brands, he sticks with Trojan because it is the most comfortable fit.

He does, however, commend the health center for carrying a variety of condom types because "people have different ways of expressing themselves."

Certain varieties of condoms are offered at the health center not only so students can "express themselves," but also because the staff at the health center hopes that through offering specialty condoms, flavored condoms and dental dams, they will encourage safe sex.

ga@umdbk.com