Contraception is not available for students at Fairfield University.
Let’s talk about sex.
Although Fairfield University may shy away from the matter as a Jesuit college, sex has come to the forefront with the recent “He Said/She Said” controversy in The Mirror.
Chris Surette’s infamous “Walk of Shame” article discussed sexual promiscuity on campus and how male students view this practice. This article revealed the fact that some Fairfield University students’ attitude toward sex is a casual one. If the attitude is admittedly nonchalant, should Fairfield University not promote safety as opposed to silence?
Catholic doctrine has denounced premarital sex since the ink dried on the New Testament. Catholic colleges today face the difficulty of how to deal with this issue and the issue of contraception.
Fairfield’s policy coincides with this. “The Health Center respects the values and traditions of Fairfield University as a Jesuit, Catholic institution and therefore does not provide contraceptives to students… students who choose to use contraception access it outside of this university,” Susan Birge, Assistant Vice President/Director of Counseling & Psychological Services and Interim Director of the Health Center, stated in an e-mail.
Fifteen Fairfield University nursing students were asked their feelings on the university’s policies.
“They’re allowing unsafe sexual behavior go on on campus. Students are going to do what they want. It is far better to show a safe way to do it than try to ban it entirely,” said Brittany Florin ’11.
The other fourteen agreed that an alternative should be provided.
Dr. Renee White, associate professor and co-director of the Black Studies Program and teacher of the AIDS in America class, thinks that Fairfield’s policies need to change. She believes the university should provide contraception.
“I consider the importance of birth control for contraceptive and barrier purposes. I think it is clear that college students – particularly women – are at an exceptionally high risk of contracting STDs over the course of their college careers,” she said via e-mail.
“I do feel that we are way too lax with our whole perception. To me, it’s a lack of respect for the human body,” said Dr. Suzanne Campbell, Associate Dean of Academic Programs for the School of Nursing.
“My head isn’t in the sand as far as knowing people are going to have intercourse. I worry about this generation,” she said.
What Catholic Schools Think
According to a 2002 survey done by The Body: The Complete HIV/AID Resource website, only 16 Catholic colleges out of 133 reported making contraceptives available to students.
The same website discusses the group Catholics for a Free Choice, which supports abortion rights and access to birth control. In a report, the group stated that Catholic colleges have “dangerously inadequate” health services.
The report says that “Catholic universities are at a difficult moment… caught between the desire to be a part of the educational mainstream and the Vatican’s attempts to tighten its grip.”
Campbell believes that sexuality and the free will to practice that is a gift. The Mirror article is just one example of how crude and disrespectful a view we now have of that very gift. She thinks that God is weeping for us.
According to Catholic.com, a woman’s development is stunted if she has premarital sex. It states that without chastity, a woman does not know how to express affection, appreciation, or attraction for a man without implying something sexual.
“Our bodies, our hearts, our relationships, and our souls are not made for premarital sex. We’re made for enduring love,” it says.
How Fairfield Tries to Help
The Fairfield University Health Center does provide a Women’s Health Clinic. This service consists of full gynecological screenings, STD testing, and pregnancy testing. The Health Center provides information on a multitude of sexual issues, as well as counseling for any pregnant students.
Campbell does not think that contraception needs to be provided on campus. “I’m really proud here. I think we do a good job in women’s right to take care of their bodies,” said Campbell.
However, many students still think that changes can and should be made.
“I think that the Health Center does help to a certain extent, but I think that Fairfield kind of brushes the whole issue of sex under the rug,” said Emma Wheat ‘11.
“I think contraceptive availability becomes even more of an issue at Fairfield with the new car/parking restrictions on campus coupled with what has gone on with the campus shuttle. It would be a mistake to assume that students will refrain from sexual activity because contraceptives aren’t available on campus and to assume that they will take the time to seek them out off campus, thus removing the university from any stated responsibility for accessibility,” said Dr. White.
“I think the statistics show that STDs are a serious issue in this country. We can’t ignore that, at Fairfield or anywhere else,” said student Dan Pratt.
So What Does “He Said” Think?
Senior Chris Surette, author of the “He Said” column in The Mirror, came under fire in September for his “Walk of Shame” article discussing casual sex at Fairfield and how males treat this kind of act.
In his article, Surette called women names such as “victim,” “slut,” and “hood rat.” Surette had harassment charges filed against him through Public Safety.
Although some focused on the article in terms of sexual harassment and vulgarity, it opened up a dialogue amongst the student body. It also begged the question: what attitude do Fairfield students have towards sex?
His article indicates that freshman and senior students alike are engaging in casual sex. For underclassmen, there is difficulty getting off campus for contraceptive items.
“I believe it is important to teach students about “safe sex” and for students to have access to contraceptives,” said Surette. “[But] it truly does not matter how I feel on the situation or how any other student feels for that matter. As a Catholic University, Fairfield must uphold the Jesuit values and Fairfield will always continue to follow these values.”
Surette thinks that the university needs to give students a better access to contraceptives. This does not mean those contraceptives should be provided on campus; but that a better system is developed allowing students easier off-campus access if need be.
“Quite frankly, jokes about the walk of shame aren’t new,” said Dr. White.
“But what was troubling about this column was its intent to focus on the humiliation of women. The walk of shame, in reality, says as much about the woman’s regret at making a bad choice as it does about her need to be shamed for being sexual at all.”
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