During the summer of 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States made the historic choice to overturn Roe v. Wade (1973). The landmark decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) held that the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion; instead, the decision to permit abortion would be decided by the states individually. Regardless of opinions regarding the Court’s choice, one fact remains undisputed in the wake of this ruling: options for safe sex have never been more critical.
In recent years, more college campuses have been offering free male contraceptives, and Harvard is no exception. With so many options across campus where condoms are available, how can you know which location is best?
Here at the Harvard Independent, we have taken the liberty of compiling a ranking of all the condom spots on campus for your convenience. To determine the optimal location, this list will use different metrics on a scale of one (worst) to ten (best). The final rankings will be based on the average score from each category, which are as follows.
1. Convenience: Since housing is spread across the campus, determining the most convenient location for students in Currier might not align with the most suitable location for Lowell. Dispensaries will be judged from the central location of Memorial Hall. House-specific locations will be judged based on how easy it is to access that resource.
2. Discreetness: Sex, and especially safe sex, is never something we should be ashamed of. But regardless, some level of secrecy is nice when collecting handfuls of contraceptives. This metric considers how open the location is to the scrutinizing eyes of others as well as whether one must ask for the contraceptive.
3. Variety: There are many different brands of condoms, all of which present certain benefits aside from safety. This metric considers which brands are on offer.
With these three categories established, let’s move on to locations.
The Houses
The Houses themselves have inconspicuous dispensaries, but the location is heavily dependent on the floor and the House. Some tutors have designated drawers full for anyone to grab at will, but others do not. A tutor in Pforzheimer, for instance, had alerted his students of a discreet drawer that is always kept full. First-years are less lucky. Proctors in the first-year dorms do not provide any male contraceptives, nor are there places in the basement where a cache can be found.
Convenience: 7/10. Discreetness: 7/10. Variety: 6/10. Overall Score: 6.7/10.
Peer Counseling
Many peer counseling resources also offer different forms of contraceptives. While some peer counseling teams focus on specific issues, the majority provide support over a wide range of topics. Spread across the campus, these resources are usually open throughout the night; yet given their mission to provide support, it may be more effective to use a different distribution location and allow the peer counselors to focus on directly helping those in need. However, if you have questions regarding safe sex, these groups are available to assist you.
Convenience: 7/10. Discreetness: 9/10. Variety: 6/10. Overall Score: 7.3/10.
Harvard University Health Services
The Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) describes itself as “multi-specialty,” and thus has many forms of safety and prevention. Primarily located in the Smith Campus Center, on the second floor within HUHS is the Center for Wellness and Health Promotion. There, you can pick up a range of safe-sex supplies such as external condoms, internal condoms, and oral dams. Since the Center for Wellness is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as well as on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., it is easy to budget the time for a quick visit. However, finding the location takes some effort, prompting the Center for Wellness to have a separate page simply called “Getting Here.” While the Center is typically not very busy, there are staff members who are present; however, they are more than willing and eager to help you keep yourself safe. Beyond the Center for Wellness, HUHS offers a wide range of emergency contraceptives too. Generic Plan B is sold at a kiosk just at the entrance of HUHS for the reduced price of $15.
Convenience: 6/10. Discreetness: 7/10. Variety: 10/10. Overall Score: 7.7/10.
The Women’s Center
Located in the basement of Canaday, the Women’s Center is a welcoming space to decompress from a busy day and to prepare to stay protected when engaging in physical intimacy. Only a few minutes walk from Memorial Hall, the Women’s Center is incredibly convenient. However, the Center is only open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so plan ahead before any late-night excursions. Additionally, the condoms provided are out in the open, so while one does not need to ask for a male contraceptive, there is little secrecy in grabbing one. Fortunately, the Center has many options that are clearly labeled. Dividers separate the lubricated from non-lubricated, and non-latex have their own section. Numerous brands are also available such as Trojans, LifeStyles, and Glydes.
Convenience: 8/10. Discreetness: 7/10. Variety: 9/10. Overall Score: 8/10.
At the end of the day, where you get a condom does not matter as long as you use one. Beyond preventing unwanted pregnancy, safe sex is essential for protecting everyone’s overall health. All of these locations are great resources with numerous options for staying safe. However, some are better than others: the most convenient location overall undoubtedly is the Women’s Center with its central location. The most discreet locations are the peer-counseling resources, but you do have to ask the counselor for the condoms. The best variety is offered at HUHS, as they have everything you could ask for and more. Overall, we have ranked the Women’s Center as Harvard’s best location to secure contraception for its quality, convenience, and variety. But at the end of the day, they are all free!
Tyler Dang ’28 (tylerdang@college.harvard.edu) recently discovered safe sex.