The Jesuit-run Boston College has ordered an unofficial student group to stop distributing condoms on campus, leading to threats of a potential battle with the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU, the Boston Globe reports:
In a move that has the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union threatening legal action, BC officials sent a letter to students on March 15 demanding an end to student-run Safe Sites, a network of dorm rooms and other locations where free contraceptives and safe-sex information are available.
Students living in the Safe Sites were told in the letter that the distribution of condoms is in conflict with their “responsibility to protect the values and traditions of Boston College as a Jesuit, Catholic institution.”
The letter, signed by Paul J. Chebator, the dean of students, and George Arey, director of residence life, says that “while we understand that you may not be intentionally violating university policy, we do need to advise you that should we receive any reports that you are, in fact, distributing condoms on campus, the matter would be referred to the student conduct office for disciplinary action by the university.”
Lizzie Jekanowski, who is chairwoman of BC Students for Sexual Health, said that the Safe Sites program fills a need that the university is not filling for its students. Students who go to any of the 18 locations, which include one off-campus location, as well as dorms, can pick up free male and female condoms, lubricant, and pamphlets about sexual health.