Chuck Palahniuk probably said it best when, in the 1996 novel, Fight Club, he observed: “The condom is the glass slipper of our generation. You slip one on when you meet a stranger. You dance all night, then you throw it away. The condom, that is. Not the stranger.”For some students, though, the topic hasn’t been as glamorous.North Kentucky University student Dennis Chaney was arrested last fall for distributing free condoms to incoming freshman students. He was forced to spend a night in jail for his salacious act, and his bail was posted at $1,000.Once the venereal vigilante was released, an organization known as the Great American Condom Campaign rushed to help vindicate his detention by making him the host of his university’s “safe site” and providing him with 500 condoms to dispense to students.Although sexual health groups have increased collegiate campaigns lately, some colleges still don’t recognize sexually-related issues.But sexual repression has waned considerably in the past few years, as many universities have opted to make contraceptive products — like condoms and birth control pills — easily accessible for students.The idea behind this increase stems from a more sensible awareness of the facts associated with most college students.Seventy-two percent of college students nationwide have had sexual intercourse during their college experience, according to Campus Health.Those who downplay the issue fail to realize that proseltized campaigns, like sexual abstinence, are often unattainable and imprudent. Collegiate leaders and representatives must shift their focus toward educating students.In recent years, STD transmissions saw a dramatic influx corresponding to the increased student intercourse.Many students acknowledge this trend, however, and have proactively sought to initiate sexual awareness using social networking applications to promote sexual responsibility.Students at UC Irvine used the site to raise awareness about their weekly 10-condom giveaway at the university’s ‘Love Lab.’At Wayne State College in Nebraska, hundreds of students have called for proper condom distribution and education for their students.Other social groups, like Abolish Abstinence Only Sex Education, assembled more than 104,000 students to call for better condom provision on campuses.But it’s not just condoms that are making a splash across college campuses. Other safe sex devices, like dental dams and lubricants, are being issued by various student organizations.Publicly funded contraceptive services annually prevent 1.3 million unintended pregnancies and the 630,000 abortions that would occur as a byproduct.At LSU, however, risk of STD transmission is the growing concern.In spring 2008, the American College Health Association conducted a study of the University’s general health by surveying 715 students. Their results showed 44.4 percent of students didn’t use STD preventative methods during their last vaginal sex encounter, and 96.1 percent didn’t use a condom during oral sex, according to The Daily Reveille.Though studies by Trojan Condoms indicate LSU is the second most sexually healthy college among Southeastern Conference schools, evidence clearly shows our students should espouse safer carnal practices.Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX – LSU) has a Facebook group specifically targeted toward educating LSU students and providing access to sexual information and preventive products.The Student Health Center provides services to all students who choose to pay the Health Center fee. They also provide condoms, six for $1, with specific educational information to ensure proper usage.Safe sex necessities are out there for the fetching. So don’t be an autopederasty prick. The next time you twiddle your fiddle, there’s no excuse not to strap a snake sock on your gamecock. End of discussion.—-Contact Scott Burns at [email protected]