While standing in line to buy food in the Campus Center, you notice a huge crowd of people around two small tables busily wrapping and taping something up. Curious, you push through the crowd to see excited and concentrated faces making roses–out of condoms.
De Anza College’s Health Services promoted Condom Awareness Week last week with an opportunity for students to make their own Valentine’s Day cards and condom roses.
Mary-Jo Lomax of De Anza’s Student Health Services was in charge of the event. “We have Condom Awareness Week every year. It’s a national event and we at De Anza do it the week before Valentine’s Day.”
In an effort to promote safe sex, De Anza has celebrated Condom Awareness Week since 1990. This year was the first year that students were able to make the roses with the Valentine’s Day cards.
“In the past, we made little packets with condoms and lubricant to pass out but this year I decided to do something different,” said Lomax. “It’s really fun because people can make it themselves.”
By Wednesday, Lomax had given out roughly 2,000 condoms.
“I had to go out again and buy more supplies at Michael’s!” said Lomax. “The directions I got used only two condoms but students are using four to six each rose. They’re using Miracle-Grow!”
Lomax stated that a majority of the participants were men, which could suggest a growing trend of responsibility among young people.
“We are trying to let people know that we have condoms available everyday at the Health Office,” Lomax said. “We are also desensitizing students to condoms; they don’t have to be afraid of it.”
Lomax also told humorous stories of students that have been coming into the Health Services office every day and those who have confessed that this was their first time seeing and touching a condom.
“I don’t have a Valentine this year, so damn, I’ll make one for myself. They are also so cute,” said student Vanessa Gonzalez.
Another student shared her brief difficulty of making a condom rose. “The first one I did a bad job so I’m giving it to my Valentine. But I’m keeping the two nice ones for myself,” said Heather Marick.
“I’m making a flower condom because it’s interesting and fun. I also wanted to figure out what that thing on Mary-Jo’s head was,” said student Jorge Martinez.
That ‘thing’ was a condom hat that Lomax proudly wore during the lunch-time Valentine-making sessions.
“Students are drawn to it because it is fun and you don’t have to be sexually active to make one,” said Lomax. “We also provide Valentine’s cards to have a little something for everyone.”
