As students entered the elegant Long Beach Hyatt Hotel on April 29 to enjoy the annual Spring Formal, most knew what the $25 price was guaranteeing them—a dinner, a night of dancing, seating in a room decorated with balloons and flowers and condoms. Yes, condoms. Those who attended were encouraged to plunge their hands into a crown full of condoms and help themselves as they registered at the reception table.
This gesture, conceived and executed by the Spring Formal Committee to advocate safe sex, was a good one, but turned into a mockery of the purpose when couples entered the hall. At each table, black and gold flute glasses were placed for each person in attendance. With the date and theme of the dance imprinted on each, most were glad to have the souvenir to take home. Inside each glass was a tin foil covered condom resembling a silver dollar with a piece of paper attached. The message stated “If it’s going to be ‘An Affair to Remember,’ remember to use one of these.”
Although the idea of passing out condoms at an event where many couples in attendance would choose to spend the night together and have sex is a good one, the manner in which it was executed was not. The condoms individually given to everyone via the souvenir glasses were not for use. Unless those in attendance are well-informed about effective contraception, the gesture is not seen as a piece of advice but as a joke, which is exactly the way most in attendance took it.
Not only was the way the condoms were given a shallow action, but so was the manner in which they were distributed. Many who attended took dates who are out of the University’s immediate environment. What kind of message is this sending to outsiders? Is this the reputation the University and its student body want to have?
Safe sex is a practice that should be both advocated and practiced by La Verne students and others. However, the manner in which it is promoted should be given careful thought. Those who planned the formal and laid out the condoms should have thought things through beforehand. What is their purpose? Is it to advocate safe sex or to simply advocate sex?
In the future, the Spring Formal Committee should think of a better object of memorabilia for attendees to remember the event by. Safe sex should be advocated but perhaps students should be given a location to receive free condoms. By passing out the condoms the way the committee did—placing them in glasses on the tables—it defeated the purpose of advocating safe sex—if that was what it was advocating at all.
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.
