University students' debate focuses on condom machine and parking

The reform of tertiary education seems to have gone over the heads of student representatives as condom vending machines and parking on campus yesterday dominated the final debate before today's students' council elections.

The one-hour debate between Karl Grech, from the Christian Democrat student body SDM, and Matthew Mizzi, representing Act, made up of 11 student associations, lacked any mention of research and stipends.

Replying to a question by a journalist from a university publication, Mr Mizzi said he personally agreed with having a condom vending machine on campus but pointed out that he was not going to agree in principle because he felt he had to represent all students. Instead he suggested having a pharmacy close by.

Mr Grech also dodged the condom issue and said that EU regulations only allowed a certain number of pharmacies in the area. There were a number of pharmacies in Msida and at Mater Dei Hospital, he said. A pharmacy could not be set up at Student's House "because of plumbing problems".

He pledged that SDM would only consider a condom machine on campus after a widespread consultation process and after the go-ahead from the government and KSU's social policy body. It is only the social body that can give the go-ahead and not the executive council, Mr Grech explained.

The lack of a condom machine on campus had again been raised by the medical students' association in October, when it lobbied the students' council to have one installed. They had already tried unsuccessfully in 2004.

During yesterday's debate, Mr Mizzi promised to offer the services of a nurse on site during the first 100 days after Act is elected and to solve the parking problem at the University within a year.

Mr Grech immediately replied that, within the first three months, SDM would present plans for a multi-storey car park.

SDM would also propose a refund system for students who used public transport.