The Student Assembly passed a motion last night asking the Office of Residential Life to investigate current methods of condom distribution on campus.
Until recently, condoms were available to students at Dick's House free of charge, but the cost of offering free condoms became too much for the Health Service's budget.
Distribution of free condoms last year cost the College around $10,000, according to Assembly member Kenji Sugahara '95. Approximately 70,000 condoms were provided to students last year.
Currently, condoms are available from Topside vending machines in Thayer Dining Hall at a cost of $1.75 for three condoms.
The motion asked ORL to investigate the feasibility of installing vending machines in dormitory bathrooms or laundry rooms.
Assembly members also raised the possibility of placing Validine vending machines filled with condoms in dormitories.
But the motion passed last night does not specifically ask for the installation of vending machines in residence halls.
"Any condom program should increase privacy or accessibility," said Class of 1995 President Tim Rodenberger. "The current program just doesn't do that."
"Anyone can look over your shoulder" in Topside, said Sugahara, who sponsored the motion. "I think students are lazy. There's a spur of the moment factor involved."
Assembly members also discussed whether making condoms more readily available would present a negative image of Dartmouth students.
"If someone is going to plan ahead there should be no accessibility problem," Matt Berry '94 said. "If someone doesn't have a spare moment to plan ahead, I question what attitudes we are encouraging and what messages are we sending about Dartmouth students."
But most Assembly members disagreed with Berry.
"We're not taking a stand on sex," said Jessica Roberts '97. "We're taking a stand on safety."
The second motion passed by the Assembly last night urged Dartmouth Dining Services to remove any requirement for upperclassmen to purchase a meal plan.
"It's one of the big issues on campus," said Sugahara, who also sponsored the dining plan motion. "We're being ripped off."
Some members opposed the motion, claiming that a drop in revenue earned by Dartmouth Dining Services would lead to a drop in quality of food and a rise in prices.
"The way it's going now isn't the way we want it to be," Russell pointed out. "Let the administration figure out how they'll make ends meet."
