At the height of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S., Obies struggled to find ways to make condom use more acceptable to their peers. In an attempt to create a friendly and open dialogue about AIDS and AIDS prevention, students participated in a poster contest that emphasized the use of condoms. 
                    –The News Team

From our 1988 archives:

The winner of the College’s contest to design a better condom poster will be announced this evening at 7 p.m. Psychological Services sponsored the poster contest entitled “Condom Sense” in an effort to heighten student awareness of AIDS.

The contest was held because “people are uneasy about condoms and have negative associations with them. Most people have an attitude like ‘It spoils the fun,’” said Psych Services Director John Thompson. 

The objectives of the contest were to heighten awareness in human sexuality and to show the extra importance of using condoms. “There is no way to treat AIDS, but several good ways of preventing it,” said Thompson. 

A human sexuality committee was organized this year to inform Oberlin students about sex. “Sex is taboo,” Thompson said, “and it is hard to find information about it.” …

“Oberlin students are sexually responsible,” said Thompson, “but like other 17-22 year olds, many are ill-informed, due to the decline of sex education in this country.”

However, Thompson added, “In my experience, Oberlin students are more realistic and worried about AIDS” than those on many other college campuses.