SOUTHEAST CONDOM SALES RISE SHARPLY SINCE OFFERED IN 1988

Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Health and Counseling sells over 20,000 condoms a year.

The number has grown dramatically since the school first began selling them about eight years ago.

Initially, less than 1,000 condoms were sold in a fiscal year. The number has steadily climbed, from over 1,000 in 1988-89 to 17,000 in 1992-93 and 23,000 last fiscal year.

Since July 1, the center has sold more than 20,000 and there are still nearly two months left in the fiscal year.

Bob Dale figures the center will have no trouble reaching the 23,000 plateau again this year.

A graduate student in psychological counseling, Dale coordinates the 2-year-old Peer Sex Education Program from a small office in the health center in the Crisp Hall of Nursing.

Dressed casually, his long hair pulled back into a ponytail, Dale views the sex education program like a proud father.

Dale says condom sales simply tie in with the school's efforts to educate students about responsible sexual behavior.

The program began in 1993-94, and Dale, who is from Caruthersville, took over as coordinator last fall. The program uses students as sex educators.

This year, a dozen students received 45 hours of training as peer sex educators. They volunteered their time, talking to about 4,000 students over the course of the school year.

Next fall, the training will be part of a three-hour credit course.

Students like Debra Long spoke to groups of students throughout this school year, discussing everything from date rape to the proper way to put on a condom.

They also counseled students one-on-one at the health center.

Long, a pre-med major who graduates this week, has been involved in the sex education program since its inception.

She said she became interested in the program after some of her friends became pregnant.

Long said it is important for students to be aware of sexually transmitted diseases and the threat of AIDS.

"I don't use scare tactics and I don't bombard people with statistics," she said. "I just try to inform people."

Both men and women come into the center to buy condoms. At 10 condoms for $1, the cost is less than at local stores.

Long said the condoms are sold discreetly. "They give them to you in a paper bag and nobody knows what you are doing. It's not like, `Hey, here's the condom line.'"

Dale said the university isn't encouraging promiscuity but attempting to prevent the spread of disease. "Our goal is to keep them healthy."

Some area residents might oppose the practice, he conceded. But he said the sale of condoms shouldn't be blamed for promiscuity any more than a well-equipped fire department should be blamed for arson.

"The only safe sex is abstinence. This is what we teach," he said.

But Dale's realistic about it. He knows that many Southeast students are sexually active.

In an effort to promote responsible sexual behavior, the health center does more than sell condoms, Dale said. Students can be tested for everything from syphilis to the AIDS virus.

Since 1991, the center has performed 863 HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) tests. None were positive.

Also during that time, the center has done about 2,300 tests for three sexually transmitted diseases. Only a few students tested positive for the diseases. Still, Dale said it is a good idea for students to get tested.

The center also conducts pregnancy tests. In 1991-92, the center gave 146 pregnancy tests. Twenty-seven tests were positive.

In 1992-93, 44 of 230 tests were positive. Last fiscal year, 44 of 275 tests were positive. This year's pregnancy statistics have yet to be calculated.