The University Bans Sex Outside of Marriage. But How Does That Affect Hookup and Dating Culture?

By Erin FlahErty Magazine Editor BEth VErghEsE Assoc. Magazine Editor and spEncEr stEppE

Asst. Magazine Editor

For Valentine’s Day, Boston College students can send their valentine a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers. Or, they could send them a bag of condoms.

BC Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH), an independent student group committed to providing students with sexual health and sex education resources, distributes “condomgrams” to members of the BC community every Valentine’s Day. At no cost, students can send their valentine a bag of condoms.

But BCSSH does not just pro - vide students with resources on Feb. 14—the group also runs Rubber Hub, a program where students can order condoms, lube, and dental dams throughout the year.

To fund its services, BCSSH receives a grant from Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive and sexual health care.

BCSSH is not associated with BC and is not officially allowed to distribute condoms on campus. On the 2018 UGBC election ballot, 94 percent of BC students voted in support of a referendum allowing BCSSH to distribute contraceptives on campus. The University then doubled down on its disallowance of contraceptive distribution, citing other Jesuit school’s policies and its commit-