Dear Dr. D.,
Where can I get free condoms?
Protect and Serve
Dear Protect and Serve,
A question which tugs at my health education heart strings. Having said that, let's get right to it. About 75 percent of our students reported last year that they were sexually active and 56 percent say they used condoms consistently when they engaged in intercourse. And that's just the facts.
Now there are a lot of people who are going to read this and say…'Dr. D. don't tell them where to get them, just tell them to just say no.' Well, as you can see, 25 percent of our students do choose to be abstinent, and frankly my role as a responsible health educator is to give you as much information as possible so that you can make 'healthy' decisions, so I applaud you asking about where to get free condoms. I will go so far as to ask you to self-answer the following questions about having sex though: Why am I choosing to have sex? How else am I going to protect myself? Do I know how to use a condom properly? Do I have consent from my partner?
Condoms will be available through an Olin Health Education sponsored program called Condom Connections with many of the mentors in the Residence Halls in the next couple of weeks. Also, if you come to any of our hall programs or theater troupe presentations in the halls, we always give out free condoms and literature. For those off campus you can come to Olin Health Education third floor to get a few condoms free to protect yourself, as well as get them free if you test within our free HIV testing site. Make sure that if you buy a brand and style that works for you and your partner to always check the expiration date.
Dear Dr. D.,
With classes starting again, I know I am going to be spending a lot of time sitting in class and studying. How can I still stay fit?
Gut check
Dear Gut check,
In our latest National College Health Assessment (2004) students told us that only 49 percent exercised vigorously enough (three times a week) to improve cardiovascular fitness. Can you say "couch potato?" Let's add it up … four to eight hours a day in class, three to six hours a day on the computer/Internet/x-box/phone, two to three hours sitting watching TV or socializing: Not passing a fitness test - priceless!
There are so many opportunities for students to exercise, move and do your body good. We have some of the best IM facilities in the country and there are more than 500 registered student organizations to get involved with, many of them sport and activity related. The first and only question you need to ask yourself is: Do I feel it is important?
