Contraceptives on the campus

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 8

Contraceptives on the campus

, Sir, —The student executive’s concern for Canterbury’s shy fornicators will raise guffaws in every tavern in town. Since contraceptives aft readily available throughout the city, this action of the executive has only served to deface further the student image before the generalpubuce. and to raise an affront to that large body of students who stand by Christian morality. Even when the schoolboys .of the district begin their furtive visits to the Student Union, the small band of eugenists who dominate the politically active minority at the university will not be in the least disturbed.—Yours, etc., ’ F. DURNING. August 4, 1971.

Sir,—l shall not be so irresponsible as to criticise our student leaders in their emotional, spiritual, and physical venture. They have my sympathy because it was palpably an establishment plot which landed all these earnest young innocents knee-deep in V.D. These last ana their fellows do work so desperately hard to achieve emotional, spiritual, “d physical happiness, and it is a shame that the old outmoded chickens persist in coming home to roost Perhaps a vending machine, spiritually ensconced in a latrine, will keep what used to be called retribution at bay. As for the projected machines in pubs, these will not only enhance gracious living provided by the booze but will also serve to illustrate ti> e Principle that candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. Finally, if I may criticise style but not content, I find the self-assurance so uneasy in their sub-navicular rationalisations that the leaders Seem to me to be in grave danger of looking like Self - consciously naughty children.—Yours, etc., , J. DUGDALE. August 5, 1971. Sir,-—My two daughters will, hopefully, be attending university in. the next few years. After trying to teach them about the sanctity of marriage, etc., I have to find some good reason why contraceptives should be sold in the same way as chewing gum. It seems tt> me it comes down to the fact that some prefer to keep their selfrespect, while others don’t seem to mind being labelled “shop-soiled.”—Yours, etc., (MRS) I. M. WILLIAMS. August 5, 1971. Sir,—l am very disappointed with the decision of the Students’ Association executive to install contraceptive vending machines in

the Student'Union buildings. I see the decision as an invitation to previously undecided students to "try it out,” and an active support of promiscuity. Perhaps promiscuity is a part of our society, but in my opinion it is most undesirable, unnecessary, and degrading. I have yet to be convinced that promiscuity and vendingmachine sex can bring true happiness.—Yours, etc., CHRIS GRANTHAM. August 5, 1971. Sir,—When are we going to get something a little more elevating from the Students’ Association than pot and bed! The installing of contraceptive vending machines is the pathetic, empty, self-indulgence we have come to expect from these halfbaked intellectuals who seem intent on scuppering the few decent moral standards we have left. When will they advocate something really demanding and revolutionary like pre-marital chastity? Don’t they think we parents have enough difficulty instilling a sound code of personal ethics in our children without them industriously whiteanting our every effort? I await with interest their reaction when, as parents themselves, they are enveloped by the flowering of the ugly culture they have so carefully nourished. Would the students* executive say whether there is to be a referendum of all students on this matter? If so, we parents look to all Christian students to rescind this decadent decision.—Yours, etc., BRIAN BARRY. August 5, 1971. Sir,—l agree that the student who wishes to "divorce old barren Reason from his bed and take the Dolce Vita to his spouse” wBl be annoyed when his delights are interrupted by venereal disease. Let him take comfort that Tom; Dick, Harry and I will toil away and pay taxes to Mr Muldoon in order to provide space, without any ground rent, for selling contraceptives, in the new pleasure-domes of learning. We shall also help to pay for the treatment of the venereal disease, and to foot the s3oom bill for education, mod-style, including bursaries, so that students will be able to buy the contraceptives. Have fun while the money lasts!— Yours, etc., TAXPAYER. August 5, 1971. Sir, —Students, including the executive, are not necessarily promiscuous or sexually liberated because they wish to have contraceptive vending machines installed, a decision made after consultation with medical advisers. They are, however, realists, who are endeavouring to deal with the problem of those who, unfortunately, have already begun sexual relations, promiscuous dr otherwise. There will always be those among students who believe in old-fashioned chastity, I think there may be more than we know. Thank God for this sensible decision and the wise young people who made it—Yours, etc., ABUSUS NON TOLLIT USUM. August 5, 1971. .Sir,—These sad/ slot machines may one day inspire young scientists towards what Vernadsky was predicting over 50 years ago, reproduction without coition, extinction of function, and nourishment drawn from the inorganic. Meanwhile, as always, a “pro” should have ® "con” and male students should also have a machine vending those tablets recently submitted for certification by West German health authorities for public, use. They contain anti-androgen, which halts male sexual drives for long periods, without impairing their restoration. Some Canterbury students would probably want this further equipment for their powderroom, as it inhibits, hairy legs.—Yours, etc. A B. CEDARIAN. August 5, 1971. Sir,—The university : is installing contraceptive machines. Why don’t they order chastity belts from < England instead? When will these stupid girts realise the men lain laughing their heads off

i. at the - ease with which they ■ can have sex without respon- • sibility. I was a teen-ager t during the last war, and with t other girls staved off en- ■ treaties of, “Be kind to us; • we may never return from i the war,” etc. Thank heavens • the majority of us knew the ■ only proposals worth consid- ■ ering were those of marriage, • proving the soldiers’ respect ! for us. Sex has not just been invented, but today’s youth are reverting to animals in their sexual behaviour. But , there is no stigma in the ani- ; mal's behaviour, and the ’ farmer is .available for help / with the offspring.—Yours f etc., ‘ CONCERNED MOTHER. August 4, 1971. ! Sir,—The handling of the ■ contraceptive vending-ma- > chine issue by the executive ' of the Students’ Association ! seems most suspicious. The ' first we students heard of ■ this matter was through the r news media. We were in- ’ formed that if a sufficient i outcry was raised against the ■ proposed move a special gen--1 eral meeting of the Students’ ■ Association would be called. ■ A few hours later Forum was I held at the University’s town - site —Ham students have yet i to get an opportunity to ex- - press their views—at which, fso the radio informed me, : the majority of students supl ported the executive’s action, r One wonders how many actui ally composed the majority, i Many students could not ■ have attended Forum even ■ if they did know the sub- . ject to be discussed. It seems that the executive did not want its carefully-laid plans to install contraceptive vending machines to be upset, as ■ happened three years ago.— i Yours, etc., s STUDENT DEMOCRAT, i August 5, 1971. j Sir,—The public are asked - by the acting president of t the Students’ Association to ] view the installation of corii traceptive vending machines . as "a more honest approach t to the problem of V.D.” Like > depending on prayer for a f good wind to deal with the , problem of the Christchurch r smog? Surely a more honest ] approach would be to get at i the root of the problem and , discourage sleeping around, t Or use the powerful opinionf swaying forces of student i life to shape a more respon- . sible attitude to morality among its own members. After all, it makes student protest over Vietnam or South Africa look a bit thin ! when they cannot deal with • a morality problem in their ■ own community except by i introducing an artificial de- ! vice which has certain re- , semblances to apartheid in-it- ■ self. Moreover, if they are - concerned to be honest in , facing the problem of vene- ■ real disease in their midst, i why not call these "contra- , V.D. devices"?—Yours, etc, I DOUBLE GRADUATE. r August 5, 1971. i Sir;—With the complete .lack of discipline evidenced > in our universities these days, ; it would appear that our fei males have an equal chance > of graduating as drug addicts or prostitutes (maybe both) while many of the males (completely degenerated) will be useful for filing the slave positions in life.—Yours, etc., COULD BE. s August 5. 1971. Sir,—F agree with P. J. . Dunn that the decision to . install vending machines for I contraceptives in the Stu»dents’ Union building is the ; decision of.-and caters for, a > minority of the student body, i While tile move has undoubs ted good motives and may f have some beneficial effects, r there is ©tie'other important ■ point to be considered. Sex • may be a commonplace on i campus, bur the campus is • not a desert island. Anyone . can walk: into the Students’ »Union and partake of whatlever benefits it offers, so r such a decision, is bound to ■ affect the morality of many r people outside the student body. While it is the right of the Students’ Association to do what Jt likes on its own premises,' if its actions are ■ going to affect others outside • the student body, then the i f city authorities should have i I a say in the matter.—Yours, 1 i etc, I ( CONDOMINIUM, i ! August 5, 1971.