Now that we are living in an age that promotes safe sex, its time to forget the
old-fashioned idealism of days past.  Wouldn't it be splendid if young people happily
abstained from sex until their sacred wedding night, and then stayed with that
partner the rest of their lives?  Then in their Utopia, there would be no financial
troubles, crime, or rainy days, for that matter.  But, were not living in a Norman
Rockwell painting, and, therefore, we need to take a reality check.
     Having condoms available to students on college campuses is a good step in
educating people about safe sex.  Just having them there makes sex less tabu, easier
to talk about, and, thus, less awkward for girls who want to protect themselves to
say, "Can you put this on?"  Someone can go into the health center, grab a handful
of condoms, collect some pamphlets on pregnancy, AIDS, and other STDs, and
even ask the doctor or nurse questions one on one: "How do you use a condom?" 
That would definitely benefit many people.
     Take the young girl or guy who doesn't feel comfortable talking to anyone
they know about sex, for example.  How are they supposed to know what options
they have in protecting themselves, and even what they are protecting themselves
from?  For many people, sex is an embarrassing and uncomfortable subject.  Having
condoms available on "safe ground," where the health care workers don't know the
students on a very personal level, can make it much easier for them to walk through
the door.  This alleviates the fear of humiliation that comes when you see your
neighbor at the local drugstore when picking up your weekly supply of condoms. 
Fear can't be an excuse.
     Money is also an issue for people who still haven't committed to practicing
safe sex.  Some just aren't willing to spend $3.99 on a three-pack, especially while
working at their minimum wage jobs.  If people have condoms on them, there is no
doubt they will be more inclined to use them.  And, spontaneous sex will be safer. 
Let's face it, in the heat of the moment, most people would not jump up and run to
the corner market.  At that point, their ids take over and consequence is not a part of
their vocabulary.
     From the viewpoint of your typical, right-winged fundamentalist, distributing
condoms on campus is asking for trouble.  It promotes immorality and goes against
the good Christian ethic.  It puts sexual ideas in our sweet and innocent youth's
heads and gives them a free ticket to practice sex before marriage.  Distributing
condoms means morals are thrown in the gutter and promiscuity goes through the
roof.  And, why are we using our tax dollars to support these sinner's habits?  We
should use that money for better labs and libraries, things that will benefit the
students.
     In response to our conservative friend, we must point out that nothing is more
important than a life saved.  You can talk for days about what people should be
doing, and how they should behave.  The point is, we're not living up to those ideals
laid out so neatly for us by our parents and the clergy of our community.  It almost
seems clich‚, but AIDS is out there; its a reality.  And, it should be scaring the pants
"on" every one of us.  Ideally, people would be monogamous and some celibate, and
those would be the only acceptable lifestyles.  Having condoms available on college
campuses is definitely not a cure-all, but its a beginning.  And until we change
dramatically, there still must be some hope for a safe and happy existence in our
country, the "land of the free."  And that means condoms are free, too, right?