Condoms, candy and roses will serve as reminders to students to have safe sex this Valentine’s Day, thanks to two Boston University student groups.
VOX, the BU affiliate of Planned Parenthood, will be handing out goody bags as part of “Candy and Condoms,” and Student Union will be handing out roses and condoms in the George Sherman Union.
While the days of decorating heart-shaped doilies with red and pink glitter are long gone, students will be able to enjoy these groups’ handouts.
VOX is giving away condoms to encourage the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
VOX is also handing out “Birth Control Matters” fliers, Sweet Tarts and candy necklaces, said VOX president Gabrielle Newton, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Each goody bag will be equipped with condom-application instructions for those who thought that condoms belong on the ears.
“This is the first time that VOX is doing this for Valentine’s Day,” Newton said. “We’re advocating safe sex, which is the only way to go.”
Newton said the instruction manuals would come in handy for many students.
“You’d be surprised how many people don’t know how to put a condom on properly,” Newton said.
Newton added that she thinks some students will be startled by the group’s forward attitude about sex.
“I’m mostly excited for people to celebrate Valentine’s Day safely and to be conscious of ways that they can prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy,” said Sasha Goodfriend, a CAS freshman and the VOX activism coordinator.
“Both men and women can make the decision to use condoms, and condoms are the only way to prevent both STDs and pregnancy,” she said.
Union is spreading the love on this Valentine’s Day by giving out roses and assorted condoms in shades of pink and red.
“The Women’s Resource Center gave us 300 Proper Attire condoms, and Student Health Services gave us 100 Trojan condoms,” said Vincent Squillace, a Union spokesman and CAS senior.
“I hope that the roses and condoms will be given to someone else, whether it’s a lover or a joke to a friend. If you are going to engage in this behavior, you should be safe about it,” Squillace said.
Squillace said the free condoms would be helpful to sexually active students who do not want to pay for protection.
“We’re just trying to help people who don’t have enough money because they have to pay for BU. Our mission is to amplify the love,” Squillace said. “The event is kind of funny since giving someone condoms and roses is kind of a straightforward way to insinuate you want to have sex.”
Students said the free condoms are an effective way to encourage safe sex, even if the condoms are not the most romantic gift.
“It’s a good idea to encourage having safe sex. I don’t think it’s about being romantic. It’s saying that if you’re going to have sex, wrap it up,” said CAS freshman Carrie Hatano.
Many students said they do not believe that condoms are the most romantic Valentine’s Day gesture and that the condoms undermine the meaning of the holiday.
“It’s kind of the lazy man’s way of getting laid. You can’t just start off a date with a condom,” said College of Communication junior Josh Ullman.
“They’re misconstruing the purpose of this Hallmark holiday. I don’t think it should be about getting laid. It should be about expressing your love,” said CAS freshman Christine Cataya.
“From a girl’s perspective, we just think that all guys want is to have sex. If someone gave me a condom, I’d be like, ‘Thanks, I’ve always wanted a lubricated rubber,’” Cataya said.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
