To the Editor:
My opinion on the topic presented by Andrew Frankel in “Recognize real people with real problems” has swayed over the course of my education at Fairfield. On the one hand, it would seem to be the university’s responsibility to care for our needs and, on the other, they could turn a “pompously pious cold-shoulder” and forget the existence of sex in the first place. I think it’s neither, and through much examination, I have come to the conclusion that the university may in fact be correct in how it has handled the situation.
It has certainly been established that college students do, and will continue to, have sex. I would doubt our administration believes Fairfield University students to be any different and/or be exonerated from such a statement. I would even argue that a couple is having sex as this piece is read! However, for the university to provide products for that sex to be safe, that would be for the university to provide an avenue and an endorsement of an occurrence not compatible with their best interest: the Jesuit message.
As college students, moreover, Jesuit students, we have surely been educated on the issues and consequences surrounding sex. It is our responsibility to act accordingly. How quick we are, as humans, to point a finger at someone else and in this case, our administration when our faults are realized. What I think we do not realize is that sometimes these real problems and real faults come as a function of our irresponsibility.
We are at an age where we must accept the consequences of our actions, be them great or small. A case of Herpes and a newborn child are not the university’s problem, and in fact, are reserved for the student and their family to handle. And for those in such dire need of assistance, last time I checked, CVS sells safe sex products, and a bus leaves in front of the Campus Center, I believe, hourly.
Sincerely,
Michael Hamilton ’06
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