Students will soon find condoms next to their candy and chips in dormitory vending machines in an effort to increase condom availability, Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco said.
The College implemented this plan because of discussions with student representatives from Responsible AIDS Education at Dartmouth and the Student Assembly.
"In the past few years a number of student groups have come to deans and administrators and asked that the College place condoms in residence halls for wider distribution," Turco said.
"RAID made their case to the Student Assembly and the Student Assembly endorsed the wider distribution of condoms on campus and essentially petitioned for this," she said.
RAID's roadshows, which are informational skits performed in College dorms, spread information about the importance of condoms in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. RAID also distributes condoms at roadshows and instructs students on the proper use of condoms.
"One of the most effective pieces about the RAID educational program was the piece they did about condoms," said Gabrielle Lucke, coordinator of health education programs.
Previously Dick's House had condoms available free of charge, Turco said. Dick's House ended that practice because of the great expense to the College and began selling them last November.
Though they are no longer free, condoms are currently available in the basement of Dick's House at a reduced cost of 75 cents for a package of four. There are three different types sold: Maxies, non-lubricated and those with nonoxynol-9.
The reduced price was possible because Dick's House, a registered hospital, buys condoms in bulk and packages them themselves.
Condoms are also sold at Topside for a regular drugstore price.
But condom sales at Eastman's Pharmacy "did not go up an appreciable amount" after Dick's House began charging for condoms, pharmacist Eddie Gherardi said.
Condom prices at Eastman's average $4 for a package of three.
Approximately one year ago, College administrators, including the dean of the College, director of Health Services, dean of residential life, director of housing operations, director of dining services and director of purchasing, met to discuss the possibility of condom availability in College dorms.
George Newkirk, director of purchasing, then began to investigate the possibility of condom vending machines in the residence halls.
"Health Services wrote a policy of what they perceived to be the College's position on condom distribution," Turco said, reflecting Dartmouth's interest in providing comprehensive health care for students.
Administrators in ORL began investigating where condoms could be made available in residence halls, whether it be in each bathroom or in one vending machine.
There will be two varieties of condoms offered in small white boxes and it is hoped they fill two of the sleeves, Turco said.
Director of Residential Operations Woody Eckels is currently researching the possibility of placing small vending machines in each bathroom. This service would be expensive but is still possible, Turco said.
The College will proceed with stocking the vending machines with condoms and then determine how great the need is by the volume of sales, Turco said.
"The next step will be to monitor the volume of sales to see if students' purchases will pay for the individual machines in bathrooms," Turco said.
