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Show Attack alarm provides security for students By STEPHANIE CUMMINGS & JOANNA SHEPARD JOURNAL CORRESPONDENTS Students at SUU a re beginning to use a safety device known as the Personal Attac k Alarm , or PAAL, which is available at the Gerald R. Sherratt Library. The PAAL is a hand-held device that can be clipped onto the user's pocket, purse, backpack o r belt. Th e device is activated by a p ull of the pin whic h releases an car-p iercing alarm a nd a flashing light. The ala rm is design ed to provide added security against attack by attracting atte ntion . Th e PAAL has been available to students for four years , b ut has not been utilized due to th e lack of student awareness. Most uppe rclassmen don't seem to know w hat the PAAL is or that it can be c hecked· out on campus. Kandis Bryant, a freshman , didn't know about the PAAL. "lf r ever thought about the PAAL, I'd check it out," she said. "'fhey need a display or advertisement as you're exiting the lib rary as a reminder that you need a PAAL. " On the other hand, some students don ' L feel that the PAAL is necessary. ShelJy Koylc, a junior pbysical education major, said, "I wouldn't c heck out the alarm because the blue lights make me feel more at case when walking around campus at night. " Some students feel that campus safety should he emphasized on a more personal level. John Doyle , a junior management information systems major, said, "Guys need to help girls on cam pus. Mayhe they probably use it more at the lah , hut the re's more of a need fo r the m at the library because more people go th ere." Shallay Ch ristofferson, a freshman a rt major, fee ls that the im portance of having access to the PAAL is equally important a t both the library and the ELC. The re are other safety f_s:aturcs available at SVU besides the PAAL. The newest additions a re the blue phones. So fa r, the only calls made have not been valid. Th ese lights are for students p rotection , not for p rank calling. Jim Turne r, chief of cam pus ·security, said the re use to he an escort service, hut no one used it due to the proximity of housing to campus. However, stude nts can call campus security and be escorted home if an officer is available . Turne r said that the safest and smartest ~ decision is the buddy system . Don't go out alone at ~ night, especially in unlit areas, he said. 5 According to a local agency review from SUU ~ campus security, 82 c rimes were re ported on campus for the year of 1997 , fo ur of w hich were ;1 aggravated assaults. Turner said that 99 percent of ~ rep orted assaults on campus and in Cedar City arc by an acquainta nce. ' - - - -- -- - - - ' - To obtain a PAAL at the library, all a student Learning Center. Because the ELC is open 24-hours, needs is his or her student 1. 0. card . For more many say they feel there is a need for a safety device information about the Personal Attack Alarm, a hooth for those doing homework after the library has will be set up in the Sharwan Smith Cente r tomorrow closed. a nd Wednesday to demonstrate the PAAL and answer Taunie Stott, a sophomore, said, "I would definitely any questions. For any CQmments or suggest ions use the PAAL, especially at the com puter lah. I would ~hout the PAAL, call Julie Oakford at 586-7766. sh ould offer to walk girls home at night , as long as it ls someone s he knows and trusts." Th ere are c urrently five alarms available at the library, but more cannot be p urc hased until stude nts begin to c heck them out. lf more students use the PAAl , they w ill be made available at the Electronic 5 i Condoms at SUU called ·a 'sticky' issue By LISA DAWN PERRY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER The Wellness Center offers LifeStyles condoms, in assorted colors, free -of charge co interested students. The condoms arc donated to the Wellness Center by the Utah State Health Department. According to Director of Student Health Services Kay Messerly, the Wellness Center began distributing condoms five years ago. Messerly said that she feels the distribution of condoms is "fairly well known," due to the "fair number" she distributes. ~esserly added that the distribution of condoms appears to he equal hctwcen men and women. "It's about 50/ 50/ she said. Students have mixed reactions regarding the policy. Junior Jodi Bunker, a chemistry major from San Diego, Calif., said, "Kids are going co do it anyway. lfthey feel like they need to have sex they should he protected. It's a lot smarter than having kids, hut abstinence is the hest policy." Jared Dean , a sophomore general education major from Farmington, N.M., said that he feels the condom policy ofSUU "encourages sexual relationships." He said that if people want birth control they can go to the store. "It 's out of place for the school to e ndorse this." Tyler Hunt, a senio r Spanish major from Las Vegas, Nev., said that tie was unaware of the service. "It's a good idea if people know that they're availahlc," he said. "It's a safety precaution because students might he too embarrassed to get them from other places," Hunt added. Messerly said that srudents are at an age w hen they feel that they're ready to find out what sex is about. Condoms are distributed to students on an individual basis and are always accompanied by educational literature, Messerly said. "There 's no bowl full of condoms on the coffee table, " she added. The literature that accompanies the condom includes the official condom policy of the university. The policy states, "Abstinence from sexual intercourse is 100 percent effectiv..: in preventing HIV infection and AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy." "I think we' re the only school in the universe that bas an official condom policy," said Messerly. "We at the SUU Student Health Ccncer support those who abstain no indication of any changes regarding the current condom distribution policy on campus." He added that condoms and information regarding sexual intercourse and STDs are availahlc in the Wellness Center. Messerly said that an increase in illegitimacy, and the num ber of STOs heing reported indicate that there is a problem. She said that using condoms is one possihlc solution to this problem, and that avoiding the issue w ill not make it go away. "It's like everybody has cold cars, hut we don 't believe in hats," she said. Annie Griffith , a sophomore e ngineering major from . West Valley, Utah , said that she fe lt the school should be spending money promoting abstine nce. "There is obviously a problem, why add to it? It's like dispensing clean needles to heroin addicts. It doesn 't get rid of the drug addic tion . It perpetuates the problem. Sex is always a risk, whether there arc condoms involved or not." Freshman communication major Matthew Hamilton from Anchorage, Ala., said, "Abstinence is . the answer. Though condoms promote safe sex, sex should not he practiced outside the institution of marriage ." Messerly said she encourages abstinence. kit's the hest and true way to stay free of ST D's. The re arc no side effects, the re is no c hance of pregnancy, tlierc is no e mot ional or p hysical damage. It's t he hcst way," she said. Regarding abstinence, Bonnikscn said, "I have seen the devastation caused hy people not being Student reaction at SUV is mixed on the issue ofwhether abstine nt, in terms of unwanted pregnancy and STDs." Bonniksen added that he w ould he willing to or not free condoms should be distributed on campus. counsel w ith anyone w ho wants to talk w ith him regarding this issue. administration. According to a document, dated Messerly said that if people arc going to use October 1988, e ntitled Statement on Decision not to condoms, they need t o make sure that the condom Vend Condoms on the SUSC Campus, "Southern Utah contains a spe rmicide with nonoxynol-9, and that they State College has c hosen not to vend condoms on its are not expired. campus, a decision which is consistent with that made Also, Messerly said that condoms sho uld not be at other colleges and universities in the state of Utah. stored in wallets or 'in hack pockets because the The dispe nsing of condoms on campus was rejected by condom can become damaged. campus administrators who are quick to point out the The Wellness Center offers HIV testing and test ing proximity of the colJege to the downtown business for other STDs. The tests cost $20 each and can he area." arranged hy making an appointment with Messerly or Dean of Students Harman Bonniksen said that, though the nurse practitioner. the policy is more than 10 years old , "there has been from sexual intercourse and instead choose to engage in other forms of sexual expression ." Messerly said that the distribution of condoms on campus is a "sticky.issue." She added that if people want it to continue, there must he respect for the program. Recently, other schools, such as Weber State and · UNLV, have extended the distribution of condoms to the student body via condom vending machines located in restrooms on campus and in the dorms, Messerly said. According to Messerly, this option was proposed for the SUU campus 10 years ago hut was vetoed by the . \' |