“Free condoms” is not a phrase many would expect to hear in a conservative state, but for Alice Oliver, communications sophomore, it is her slogan.
As a SafeSite for the Great American Condom Campaign, sponsored by Trojan Condoms, Oliver is responsible for passing out free condoms across campus and spreading the message of safe sex, a movement that has always been close to her heart.
“People are going to make choices in life,” Oliver said. “I wanted them to be protected and be safe [when it comes time to have sex].”
Oliver said she learned about becoming a SafeSite from a mentor after volunteering with Planned Parenthood during high school.
“I applied online after the position was recommended to me,” she said. “Twenty-three hundred students applied, but only 1,000 were accepted.”
Oliver said in order to become a SafeSite she had to prove that she had an outstanding repertoire with students and that she was acquainted with a variety of people to help spread the word about her cause.
For New Jersey-born Oliver, coming to Oklahoma was quite a culture shock in terms of sex education.
“I was surprised that abstinence-only education was the norm in Oklahoma because we don’t have that in New Jersey,” she said.
According to a recent USA Today article, teen birthrates have risen in 26 states, including Oklahoma, which, alongside Texas and Mississippi, whose primary sex education is geared toward abstinence, has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. Grassroots campaigns like the Great American Condom Campaign are geared toward these “at risk” states in order to spread the word of prevention that may not have reached students in these states.
Oliver said it is proven in studies that students taught in the abstinence-only education environment are less likely to know how to protect themselves when the time to have sex occurs.
As a member of several Christian organizations on campus, Oliver said she realized information about protection is needed.
“Coming from the Northeast and meeting people who were raised in predominantly Christian households with abstinence-only education has made me want to reach out to them and say, ‘Having sex isn’t horrible, but you need to be protected,’” Oliver said. “[I understand] it can be embarrassing to buy condoms. That’s why I’m here as a SafeSite.”
Oliver attributes much of her safe sex education to her upbringing.
“My parents were big on what you need to know, abstinence is great, but be safe,” Oliver said. “My mom always said, ‘We always have extra change for soda and condoms.’”
As a SafeSite, Oliver is required to hand out 500 condoms per school year, but she has taken on the ambitious task of handing out 500 a semester, which can present many challenges.
“I think my greatest challenge will be handing them out in mass numbers,” Oliver said. “If you just sit there and hand out condoms, chances are people won’t listen to you. But my hope is ... I can pass out 55 condoms in one day, and at least a fourth of them are used; but if they choose to put them on their wall as a condom collection, I can’t help that. At least I’m giving them the option to be safe.”
For organizations such as the Women’s Outreach Center, campaigns like Oliver’s are necessary for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
“Campaigns to provide access to condoms are one important part in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases,” stated Kathy Moxley, director of the Women’s Outreach Center, in an e-mail.
Oliver remains passionate about the use of condoms because of their versatility.
“Birth control can only protect against pregnancy but condoms can protect against STDs, AIDS and a slew of other things,” Oliver said. “I hope that students will have them in their arsenal to protect them against STDs and unwanted pregnancies.”
Oliver said she hopes her efforts will encourage students to have more protected sex and be more informed about the consequences of sex both good and bad.
One of the major concerns before Oliver assumed the roll of SafeSite was how she would be portrayed in the community educating students about safe sex.
“My parents weren’t too thrilled [when I first told them],” Oliver said. “They were apprehensive of how I would be looked upon. But my boyfriend was very supportive, which was nice. [Sex education] is something really important to me, so it’s nice to have support.”
Friend Taylor Marlow, University College freshman, encourages Oliver’s decision to be a SafeSite.
“I think it’s positive that she has found a cause that is important enough for her to try and make a difference,” Marlow said.
Some met Oliver’s cause with confusion and humor.
“My roommate was a little concerned about the 500 condoms being delivered to our apartment,” Oliver said. “She asked me if I was going to use all of them.”
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brandeis 2 years, 7 months ago
Hey OU welcome to where Brandeis was in 1960!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work guys!!!!
epetrich 2 years, 7 months ago
"... had to prove that she had an outstanding repertoire with students..."
So she is prepared for a wide variety of performances with students? "Repertoire" seems a curious word choice in this context.