As the president of Voices for Healthy Choices, Grand Valley’s student orginization that advocates for choice as well as comprehensive abstinence plus sexual education, I was incredibly appalled by the editorial cartoon in (last) Monday’s edition of the Lanthorn. I cannot even begin to explain how ridiculous this cartoon is, but I will give it a good attempt. First of all, the cartoon insinuates that not discussing abstinence and handing out condoms instead promotes things like violence against women, and the more subtly hinted at rape. It also insinuates that condoms don’t work. The label on the boxes of condoms that we give away has the labeling (and this is verbatim) “If used properly, latex condoms will help to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection (AIDS) and many other sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis. Also effective in preventing unintended pregnancy, although no contraception can guarantee 100% protection.” Under the Federal Trade Commission Act- “Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive; Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims; and advertisements cannot be unfair.” This cartoon makes it look as if these students left with condoms and came back diseased, beaten and pregnant. If this was an attempt at humor, it was NOT funny. It was mis-informative and offensive. Please consider this in your next attempts at sex-ed related humor.

Nikita Bradford

Junior

Voices for Healthy Choices President