For the second year in a row, Peer Health Education (PHE) and Program Board worked together to combine condoms and casinos to make an educational, yet fun, experience for students.
Located in the Thompson Student Activities Room (TSAR), the Condom Casino drew students in with the temptation of blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, craps, and more in order to spread the message of safe, protected sex. There were also several prizes offered to students throughout the night.
In order to enter the event, students first had to be members of the Latex League. PHE would put the non-member students through the safe-sex presentation and then present the students with their Latex League card, also gaining them access to the event.
Last year, the event held around 100 people, but PHE and Program Board know that it’s about more than just numbers.
“Honestly, if we have one person show up and be educated and hangout, I would be happy,” said Billy Nichols, the Program Board’s point-person for the event. “It is crucial to offer events to students that are cost efficient, fun, and educational because those three things embody the entire purpose that we are in college in the first place.”
Using individual condom packages as the chips used to bet in the games, students would keep going until their “chips” ran out, or they could “cash out” to potentially get a prize and to get free safe-sex supplies.
“Most students have had experience with casino games of some sort or at least with card games,” said Katie Weller, an executive member of PHE. “A casino theme is something a little different than other programs offered.”
PHE and Program Board have partnered up several times before for events like Humans vs. Zombies, and Thee House Party. Every time, they aim to provide an event that is not only educational, but fun as well.
“I cannot stress how important this specific education is,” Nichols said. “Being able to have fun while being responsible is something that everyone should be able to do. Events like this encompass that.”
There were about $600 worth of prizes handed out to students, and many safe-sex items were given out for free.
“Working with the Peer Health Educators helps us at Program Board feel that we have an extended purpose beyond entertainment,” Nichols said. “When students come to events like this, they leave with more knowledge than they showed up with.”
For more information about Program Board or Peer Health Educators, find either group on Facebook, or follow their Orgsync pages.
