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O!zone condom coupons censored
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The condom ad has left the building.
After multiple complaints from students, parents and faculty, condom coupons were removed from the coupon booklet handed out to students entering The Boise State Bookstore.
The coupon was for 20 percent off any purchase of $5 or more at The Ozone condom shop located on Broadway Avenue.
“I had at least five [complaints],” Director of The Bookstore Mike Reed said.
“And I know a couple of the other managers had more than that as well.”
Reed notified Brooks Publishing, publisher of the coupon booklets, of the complaints and suggested alternative distribution sites. He suggested another location in the Student Union Building where students could pick up the coupon booklets without being offended.
Brooks Publishing then made the decision to remove all condom coupons from the remaining booklets. The company sent two temporary workers to pull out all condom coupons.
According to Jeff Brooks, CEO of Brooks Publishing, the process took three days.
Approximately 15,000 coupons were removed.
“I think that’s ridiculous,” senior Rachel Alberson said. “That [The Ozone] should be a place where people have access to cheap products and be able to protect each other.”
While some students have no opinion on either the presence or absence of the ad, many feel it should have remained in the booklet. However, there are students who feel that the coupon doesn’t belong in the booklet.
Junior Abby Waters said the presence of the coupon would unnecessarily perpetuate the idea across campus that everyone is having sex.
“They have those resources out there already, and it doesn’t need to be out there for everyone,” Waters said.
Caryn Thompson, owner of The Ozone, who was not notified beforehand that her coupons would be removed, said she doubted at first that the incident was happening. By the second or third phone call from students and faculty notifying her of the missing coupons, Thompson said she was stunned.
Thompson has advertised through the coupon booklets for three years, using the exact same coupon. According to her, this is the first semester she has heard of any problem with it.
“The coupon is in no way soliciting anyone,” Thompson said. “In the past the coupons have done really well for me . most of the students that came in on Friday were students that are aware that I have the coupon in there and were waiting for the books to come out to come in and make their big purchases.”
Thompson said approximately 500 to 600 people come in with the coupons each semester.
The Ozone will offer the discount to any student who comes in with a student ID and notifies her that they are aware of the ad.
There are also plans to offer the coupon through Health, Wellness and Counseling Services and at sexual awareness events across campus.
According to Brooks, Thompson will receive a full refund for the coupons.
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RENEE DAVIES
News Journalist
