St. Olaf College and the "Condom Olympics"

Exposing the ELCA ^ | 3/23/12 | Dan Skogen

[rhema]

We really need to start a series called, “Are ELCA colleges Christian?” I say that because it seems to me, more and more, worldly values and morals are taking precedent within ELCA colleges.

St. Olaf College is affiliated with the ELCA. On St. Olaf's official website we learn of an event called the “Wellness Olympics” and are told this, “Back by popular demand, the Wellness Center is hosting a team-based competition that tests students’ knowledge of sexual health, reproductive anatomy, and STI statistics. It all culminates in an intense relay race to properly put on a condom while wearing ‘beer goggles.’ Come and bring your friends!” (see here)

On St. Olaf College Wellness Center’s Facebook page we are told of this event, but they call it “Condom Olympics!” The Wellness Center apparently invited 399 Facebook members, who in all likelihood are St. Olaf College students with Facebook accounts, to this “Condom Olympics.” Twenty seven people responded saying they were “Going” to the event and 32 people said they “maybe” going. (see here)

St. Olaf’s Student Government Association’s website announced the event this way, “An interactive competition with the purpose of social norming and learning all about condoms. Ahhhhh yeeeah.” (see here - probably won't be on their webpage for long)

Here is one person’s rude comments about the event -http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/post/25173/

So lets get this straight, an event held at St. Olaf College teaches students how to put on condoms while intoxicated, which is what “beer goggles” are to simulate.

People who support St. Olaf College need to know about this.

[Calvin Locke]

I was working in the Boston area in the early 1990s. The Harvard Divinity School got publicity for hosting a condom “art” show.

[rhema]

I’m sure the mainstream media must have lionized it for its cheeky, cosmopolitan sophistication.

[gas_dr]

I am an OLE, graduated from the hill in 1994. I was the vice president for worship in the student congregation. I categorically disagree with where the ELCA is on many social issues. Our church in Jacksonville, Florida left the ELCA over the ordination of homosexual clergy.

The reason I am posting this response is because this is irresponsible journalism. One of the things about St. Olaf is that the students have a lot of organizations that are neither supported by the college or the administration. This whole thing at the Lion Pause through the SGA is exactly a student initiative. Bad taste? Yes! Do I agree with it? Absolutely not! Is this the policy of the college...no.

Having the long view of the liberal arts education, might I point out two things...have the facts straight prior to writing and impugning about it. #2...if we are to live in a free society, please recall the statement (I believe it is Plato but could be Voltaire)...Although I despise what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it...

Um! Yah! Yah!

[rhema]

Good points, all. However, GLBT organizations do seem to have the imprimatur of the college. GLOW (Gay, Lesbian, or Whatever) and SOLGEN have college-approved space on the St. Olaf website.

[rhema]

Thoughtful, Biblically based response on the Exposing the ELCA website from Mark Daniels:

I'm in favor of providing people with information that might help them to avoid sinful and/or dangerous behaviors.

And I don't mind if such information is provided with an element of "fun."

But the "condom olympics" assume that young people will, as a right of passage, engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage and, sex or not, get themselves blitzed.

Assuming these things is to say that human beings are hormonally-driven animals incapable of heeding the call of God over their lives and more seriously, assumes that God is incapable of hearing the prayers of believing Christians who pray, "Deliver us from temptation."

At a Christian college, while acknowledging the original sin that tempts us all, professors instructors, and administrators will instead teach that it's possible, through submission to Christ, to possess "self control," a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

But, of course, there's yet another assumption ELCA members should avoid: The one that says our ELCA colleges, universities, or even, seminaries, are Christian. Sadly, there's little evidence to support such assumptions.

[lightman]

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* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

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