While the strict Student Assembly Finance Committee guidelines intend to impart fairness in the distribution of funding to student groups, these rigid rules have instead prevented certain groups from fulfilling their mission. Such is the case with Sexual Awareness for Everyone, a student group that works to educate students on sexual health topics and promote safe sex practices.

In order to fulfill their goal, SAFE requested funding for condoms, lube and dental dams to distribute free of cost to the Cornell community. A clause in the guidelines prohibited the group from receiving funds. It is clear that the SAFC needs to revisit its guidelines so as not to thwart worthwhile causes due to bureaucratic practices.

To the Editor:

Re: “The Apolitical Pill,” Opinion, April 7.

There are a few corrections that I would like to make to the editorial on the “non-incendiary” changes that President Obama has made regarding abortion. The editor called the reversal of the “global gag rule,” or Mexico City Policy, notable — however, research posted on Jill Stanek’s column on WorldNetDaily.com reveals that reversing this policy actually only provided funding to five organizations. Furthermore, Stanek cites the funds gained as “paltry” at best, with International Planned Parenthood gaining $5 million when “IPPF’s London corporate headquarters alone made $120.5 million in 2007.”

To the Editor:

Re: “Alternatives to Condoms: The Catholic Church and Contraceptives,”

Opinion, April 1.

Despite the positive spin the Catholic Church may want to put on Natural Family Planning, it is a much less reliable method of contraception than condoms. While the perfect use (no human error, and used every time) rate of pregnancy for condoms is 2 percent, the low-end of the similar rate for NFP is three times higher. Additionally, while condoms are easy to use, NFP requires either meticulous record keeping or tracking biological signs of fertility like cervical mucous. Furthermore, NFP is only reliable in women who have regular cycles.

Based on a federal court ruling last month, the age to obtain Plan B without a prescription will soon be lowered from 18 to 17 years old. The verdict was reached as the result of a lawsuit against the F.D.A., which stated that the previous policy was formed based on inappropriate concessions to conservative lobbyists in the Bush administration.

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI made headlines by saying that condoms are an inappropriate and counter-productive solution to HIV/AIDS. Some have expanded on the implications of the Pope’s comments and have considered Church teaching on contraception in light of overpopulation. However, many understand what the Catholic Church says regarding contraception, but few understand why it says it. As such, I now offer this information, assuming that overpopulation is a problem. It is my hope that, whatever moral view you ultimately take, you at least understand the Catholic position, and do not come to a decision without considering all of the ideas here presented.

At Cornell we don’t take tests, we take preliminary exams, or prelims. While complaints run rampant about such evaluations, they are good preparation for the biggest one — the final. Unfortunately, in terms of sexual health at Cornell, preliminary exams are not as easily accessible.

“Last year, I thought it would be a good idea for my friends and I to get tested,” recalled one female junior, who chose to remain anonymous.

Sexual Health at Cornell

Take a deep breath and prepare for this.

ANAL SEX.

There. I said it. People have it. For a sizeable chunk of the population, it’s the preferred method of doin’ the dirty. And if you didn’t know yet, plenty of straight folks are enjoying the devilish act of sodomizing their lovers in ever-increasing amounts. So now, please, as a community, can we get over it and move on?

… No? Oh, all right.

But if we’re gonna talk about butt-lovin’, we have to at least mention the “eeew!” factor and HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS THAT THERE IS STILL AN EW FACTOR.

“Ivy Leaguers love to be on top, and we’re not just talking academics,” according to Trojan Condom’s 2008 Sexual Health Report Card, their annual ranking of sexual health resources at American colleges and universities. This year, Cornell placed third out of 139 schools ranked, up from last year’s spot of 63rd.

According to Trojan Condom’s website, their ranking system represents each state and major athletic conference in the country, and measures the availability of sexual health resources and information on college campuses.