Sexual Health Limited by Santa Clara Student Handbook

National sexual assault awareness month prompts safe sex discussion

The Catholic Church believes that God created intercourse between biological men and women for the sole purpose of conception. The stance has not changed since Pope Saint Paul VI’s 1968 Humanae vitae which clearly prohibited the use of contraception (including condoms and birth control).

Conversations about sexual health resources have become especially prevalent both off and on campus, as April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP) is hosting its annual Slut Walk on April 21. 

Student groups like SCCAP and Safe Sex SCU are working to normalize safe sex on campus and make the concept a part of campus culture. Other on-campus organizations including the Wellness Center and Associated Student Government (ASG) push for the same cause, pursuing student access to contraception and education through events and resolutions. 

“Mental health resources came after a lot of push and was a gradual change,” Senator at-Large for Student Safety on ASG and Learning and Development Chair at the Wellness Center Lilly Dunbar said. “We need that kind of movement. If it’s given persistent work, it could be given some push over two years and we can hope for the best.”

The Santa Clara Student Handbook explicitly states that condoms and contraceptives will not be provided to students on campus. While the importance of education surrounding contraception and sexual health is mentioned, the handbook states that “Student Health Services does not provide condoms or prescribe contraceptive medications for the purpose of preventing birth.”

Despite this statement, students have attempted to find a workaround for this clause.

“Are there avenues around this?” Dunbar asked. “If ‘provide’ means purchase and give to students, could we receive a donation from the Valley Medical Health Center or from Trojan and give those out to students?”

Concerns regarding the policies outlined in the handbook were reignited during the summer of 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson. Since then, 13 states have banned abortions.

In response to this decision, Santa Clara’s Campus Ministry sent out an email to the student body mere hours later. This email spurred Dunbar to write a letter to the Santa Clara student body that would act as a resource guide on behalf of ASG. After this email was sent out on Aug. 10, ASG senators met with three student life administrators to discuss future steps.

“In this meeting, I was constantly reaffirmed that referrals can be made to Planned Parenthood, that those in the Cowell Health Center are aware of our Jesuit values, but they’re healthcare professionals and are entrusted to make the best decisions for students,” Dunbar said.

The administrators referenced the Student Safety Resolution passed by ASG students during the 2021-22 academic year regarding sexual violence and safety on campus.

“But we brought up condoms on campus and were strictly told no,” said Dunbar.

However, for a short period of time in Oct. 2022, condoms were available for purchase in Santa Clara’s Cellar Market.

“On October first, I rushed down to the Cellar as soon as it opened and the condoms were there,” Dunbar said. “We had in writing that no condoms would be available on campus, and yet they appeared.”

The condoms were stocked and available for purchase for two weeks, but have not returned since then. 

“I don’t think enough people saw the condoms and I don’t think enough people understand that we are a Jesuit University,” said Dunbar. “But for people in student government or who were involved in this process, it’s a huge deal.”

She hopes that sexual health will become a regular topic of conversation around campus and that condoms can be distributed in, if not the Cellar, the Wellness Center. 

“Now that we’ve seen it as a possibility on the Santa Clara campus, I’m optimistic that there may be broader things considered to get them back,” Dunbar said. “It might not be a formal recognition, and it may still need to be a roundabout way, but a roundabout way is still a way. I have confidence that there is a solution.”