The Kelly Cold New York City Wa n t s By Lisa Vo l t a i r e that he will contact after our conversa- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ tion, so they can solve the cold prob- lem. You to Get Some There is a cold problem in Kelly. It’s By Amelia Fischer success. The city’s decision to causing trouble for the cashiers and the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ promote the condom has come under fire students who are eating there. T h e y T h e r e is no doubt, after from the Roman Catholic Church. In a have to wear coats and gloves, while walking into the last On Valentines Day, the New York City joint statement, Cardinal Edward Egan struggling to finish their burritos. Health Department introduced the first and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Maria Diaz has been a Kelly cashier dining hall, that there city-branded condom.” The NYC decried the condom as a promotion of for sixteen years, and according to her, is a temprature pro b l e m Condom will be free to individuals and “ i n d e c e n c y,” stating that they felt City Kelly has been cold in the winter, but clinics, and they will be available at mul- Hall, “fail to protect the moral tone of our never this bad. Diaz sits close to where in Kelly. tiple locations throughout the city. T h e community when they encourage inap- the freezing air is running from down- NYC Health Department has been dis- propriate sexual activity by blanketing stairs. She is wrapped in a blanket, scarf tributing free condoms since 1971, and our neighborhoods with condoms.” and a hot fan is frequently working “It shouldn’t be like this,” Lestrange the campaign has grown steadily over the Mayor Bloomberg fought back, using his behind her. This is the situation Diaz says as we walk through Kelly’s dining years. In recent years, the Health weekly radio show to state that, “This is deals with every day. She works for six halls to find where it’s cold. In the first Department has distributed about 2.5 not an issue of faith, this is a health issue hours and has one break. She believes room, the temperature is moderate. In million condoms yearly. This new public- for the city.” The Mayor added, “They i t ’s Kelly’s new ceiling that’s causing the second, it’s considerably colder. ity campaign and fresh branding eff o r t [The Roman Catholic Church] should the cold and the downstairs doors to There is no doubt, after walking into are expected to hopefully increase that preach to their congregants what they Kelly that are often left open by stu- the last dining hall, that there is a tem- number to about 18 million condoms per think is the appropriate ways to live your dents. Diaz’s supervisor knows about perature problem in Kelly. This is also y e a r. Officials hope that distribution of lives, but the health department has to the cold, yet Diaz witnesses no changes. evident from the crowd who are watch- the condom will help stop the spread of work with the real world of people not Dennis Lestrange will be in his off i c e ing a movie for a Global Studies event, HIV/AIDS and other STDs as well as practicing protected sex, not practicing this Friday evening and has promised while fully clad in winter coats. In addi- stymie the number of unwanted and abstinence, and this is a ways to keep me a few minutes for my questions. tion, a student asks if we are there people alive.” Lestrange is the Resident District because of the cold situation and tells Manager of Stony Brook’s Campus us he brought the audience hot choco- Dining Services. When he was made late to make them stay. It’s obvious the “This is not an issue aware that the students are negatively cold is a problem in Kelly. of faith, this is a a ffected by the cold in Kelly, he was I finish my interview with Mr. more generous with his time. Lestrange Lestrange outside the hall, and we both health issue tells me the doors are the reason why make an agreement to follow the cold for the city. ” for the cold, not the ceiling. He men- issue in Kelly. Lestrange hopes there tions the Physical Plant. Department, can be a change in three to four weeks. Michael Bloomberg Mayor of New York City Hye Hye Birdie The debate over the moral decency of city-sponsored condoms will continue to By Kotei A o k i changed. The temperature rose above wage on long after the PR-buzz of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 (the day's highest was 49 F). To o condom itself wears off. What cannot be ambitious I was. I wore three short- ignored is the need for the public to After Punxsutawney Phil's prediction sleeve t-shirts and headed out of my NYCCondom.org become more aware of the fact that con- failed, the Roth Pond was frozen solid. dorm for the day. First thing everyone Take the A Train to Pleasure Town! doms are the most efficient way to The temperature stayed in the lower 20s noticed was that the pond water was unplanned pregnancies. engage in safe sex, regardless of religious while it felt as if it was in the negative. being replaced. Yes, water was pumped The new condom is pure New Yo r k beliefs. This is a frank and sobering By early February, students littered on into the Roth Pond. Amazingly it con- City: it stands out with a multi-colored, e ffort by the City and is one that deserves the natural pond rink, threw garbage tinued until late at night. While the subway-style lettering wrapper, giving a some applause. cans on the ice, pricked bars through the water was filling up the pond, the sheet whole new meaning to the Duke Right now, most of the locations listed sheet of ice, enjoyed the friction-less of ice became submerged. Thick ice still Ellington standard “Take The A Tr a i n . ” on the website are bars, taverns, clubs surface, played hockey, been caught by covered the other half of the pond. The ad-campaign is witty and bright, fea- and barber shops. This honest acknowl- university police, and actually skidded Next day, I could not help grinning at turing phrases like “NYC Condoms- Get edgement that condoms are necessary for on skate shoes. The ice already seemed the scene by the Roth Pond. Finally! Some,” “New Yo r k ’s hottest new wrap- the protection of the public’s collective i n v i n c i b l e . Geese are back on campus. Still there p e r,” and “New York, we’ve got you cov- health is a great step forward for the were only a few. We could expect more ered,” in Spanish and English. The ads Health Department, and New York City arrivals later. They are the sign of adorn subway cars, busses and posters as a whole. Hopefully other cities will Spring for Stony Brook University. I throughout the city, making it impossible become jealous and start creating their only remember seeing two geese though for residents and commuters alike to not own brand of condoms. I’d be willing to I am certain there were a few more. One be aware of the new offering. Any New bet that San Francisco is next with their was on the side of the water. The other York City business or organization can very own brand of “City By The Bay” was already swimming in the icy cold distribute these free condoms. Soon the condoms. Hopefully, the new ad cam- w a t e r. I could clearly see the thin public will be able to pick up a free con- paign will drastically increase condom chunks of ice floating on the surface. dom or two with the morning coffee, or usage, decrease the spread of sexually The goose was trying to get through afternoon sandwich, from the local transmitted diseases and unwanted preg- them, as a ship tries to sail through f a r m e r ’s market, or even from the hot nancies. sheets of ice in the Arctic. dog vendor while grabbing a quick snack Welcome back...shall we just call in Midtown. It is this collaboration with To find out more about where to get Kotei Aoki them…geese? Let's see if more of their A Water Fowl local businesses and organizations that your very own free NYC Condoms, go to pecking around the Roth Pond will start o fficials hope will make the campaign a w w w. n y c c o n d o m . o rg On We d n e s d a y, February 21, things soon. Spring - here it comes! www.thestonybrookpress.com 2 Is it Hallow e e n A l r e a dy? Nope, I t ’s Only Va l e n t i n e ’s Day By Ilyssa Fuchs Comprehensive sex education teaches _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ abstinence as well as provides informa- tion about contraception, sexually If you walked through the SAC lobby transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS” last Tuesday you might have noticed a (Gina M.