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The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. A
ABBY ROSENBAU I Daly
Owner Beth Karmeisool poses in front of the Safe Sex Store's wall o' condoms.
c Question & Answer Interview
Safe sex and the city
By Meredith Keller
For the Daily
Like the Stadium, the Diag and even
the Grad, the Safe Sex Store is perhaps
one of the most talked about landmarks
on campus - or at least South
University. And since we are on a cam-
pus of higher learning, the Safe Sex
Store rises to the occasion where edu-
cation is concerned. Providing helpful
and healthful knowledge and facts, the
Safe Sex Store is the primary copula-
tion-information station on campus for
the horizontally inclined. Safe Sex
Store founder and owner Beth
Karmeisool shares how her store lives
up to its name.
The Michigan Daily: What inspired
you to set up the Safe Sex Store?
Beth Karmeisool: I used to volun-
teer for the Rainbow Connection,
where I worked with children who had
been infected with AIDS. I thought it
was unfortunate that moms had infect-
ed their kids, and people had infected
each other, but little was being done to
promote safer sex, especially within the
school system. After research, I found
there was a need for a comfortable envi-
ronment, especially for women, that
would sell (safe sex) products.
TMD: So, how does your store live
up to its name as a "Safe" sex store?
BK: We live up to it in ten thousand
different ways. One of the main ways
is that every worker is trained as a peer
educator in HIV/AIDS, STDs and
STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
We are also linked with the Center for
Disease Control, and a percentage of
the sales we get its given back to
MAPP (Midwestern AIDS Prevention
Project), HARC (HIV/AIDS Resource
Center) and Planned Parenthood. We
work very closely with these organiza-
tions to do outreach programs where
we give safe sex presentations all over
the state. It is very important to us that
we promote the educational side of the
business.
TMD: Tell me about the training
process which employees must go
through.
BK: Our employees partake in a very
rigorous training program. Lots of peo-
ple come into the store and think it
would be a great place to work in, but
once they realize that we are savina-
lives here, their attitudes change and
they become more serious. All trainees
go through a rigorous four day training
program, so they provide customers
with the right information. They also go
through MAPP training to become cer-
tified as peer educators.
TMD: Do you have any pamphlets in
the store that provide information con-
cerning sexual safety and health, as
well as information about diseases?
BK: Yes. All of our pamphlets are
free to the public, at the store's expense.
We want to provide the latest informa-
tion (about sexual health) free of
charge.
TMD: What kind of products do you
sell that promote safe and healthy sex
lives for both men and women?
BK: Condoms are our number one
sellers. We also sell dental dams.
Reality female condoms and lubricants,
which are also very important for safe-
tv and health. We also sell educational
books as well.
TMD: Are there certain condoms
that are more reliable than others, in
terms of durability and strength?
BK: The FDA sets certain standards
for the sale of condoms. Twenty-five
pounds of pressure is the current FDA
standard, so a condom must exceed 25
pounds of pressure to be sold here.
Durex, which is the world's largest pro-
ducer and seller of condoms, sets their
standard, however, at 40 pounds of
pressure.
TMD: What are the most expensive
items sold in the store?
BK: There is the Kama Sutra gift
drum, which is S74.99 and contains all
of the best products in the Kama Sutra
line, such as Honey Dust, Pleasure
Balm, massage oils and creams. We
also have the Pulsatron Adult Vibrator,
which for 559.99, has seven different
pulsating feelings.
TMD: Finally, if you had to write a
recipe for safe sex, what would the
ingredients be?
BK: The main thing is to be consis-
tent with your actions and selective
Of Thee I Sing See Thursday.
Mendelssohn Theater, Michigan
League. 8 p.m. $20, $15, $7 with
student ID. 764-0450.
Beautiful Bodies See Thursday. Arena
Theater, Frieze building. Free. 764-
6800.
The Maiden's Prayer See Thursday.
Performance Network, 120 E. Huron.
8 p.m. $17 ($3 discount for seniors;
group rates available.) 663-0681.
Waiting for Godot The Gate Theater of
Dublin presents the Samuel Beckett
classic in association with the
Beckett mini-festival. Power Center. 8
p.m. $42, $38, $36, $20, $10 stu-
dent rush tickets day of show. 764-
2538.
ALTERNA TIVES
Kazuo Ishiguro Author of "The
Remains of the Day" reads from his
latest book, "When We Were
Orphans." Borders Books & Music. 7
p.m. Free. 668-7652.
Nancy Huston Author reads from her
book "Mark of the Angel." Shaman
Drum Bookshop. 8 p.m. 662-7407.
The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii:
Ancient Ritual, Modern Muse See
Thursday. Museum of Art. Free. 764-
0395.
Saturday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Dancer in the Dark See Friday.
Michigan Theater, 2, 5, 8 p.m. $5.50.
My Dog Skip (2000) See the film that
"rocked" Lassie's world and that
Benji called "one of the most original
and inspiring American movies of the
past dozen years." Quality 16, 10 &
11 a.m. Free.
Shower See Thursday. Michigan
Theater. 5 & 7 p.m. $5.50.
Woman on Top See Friday. Michigan
Theater. 6, 8 & 10 p.m. $5.50.
MUSIC
Dark Star Orchestra Jazzy recreations
of Grateful Dead concerts in their
entirety. Michigan Theater, 603 East
Liberty Street. 8 p.m. $13.50. 668-
8463.
Christian McBride See Friday. Bird of
Paradise, 312 South Main. 7:30 &
11:30 p.m. $20. 662-8310.
Great Big Sea Aquarian folk rock.
Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty
Street. 8 p.m. $15-$25. 668-8463.
Smokestack, Yo Nasty Bluegrass influ-
enced, horn tinged rock. Blind Pig,
208 South 1st. 10 p.m. $5. 996-8555.
THEA TER
A View from the Bridge See Thursday.
Trueblood Theater, -Frieze building. 8
p.m. $15, $7 with student ID.
764-0450.
Of Thee I Sing See Thursday.
Mendelssohn Theater, Michigan
League. 8 p.m. $20. $15, $7 with
student ID. 764-0450.
Beautiful Bodies See Thursday. Arena
Theater, Frieze building. Free. 764-
6800.
The Maiden's Prayer See Thursday.
Performance Network, 120 E. Huron.
8 p.m. $17 ($3 discount for seniors;
group rates available.) 663-0681.
Waiting for Godot See Friday. Power
Center. 8 p.m. $42, $38, $36, $20,
$10 student rush tickets day of show:
764-2538.
Krapp's Last Tape David Kelly, known
for portraying the title role in
"Waking Ned Divine," will perform
this Samuel Beckett monologue. He
is traveling with the Gate Theater of
Dublin in association with the
Beckett mini-festival. Residential
College Auditorium, East Quad. 2 & 5
p.m. $25. 764-2538.
A LTERNA TIVES
Kirston Kingdon National Executive
Director of PFLAG reads from her
book "Summer at the End of the
World." Borders Books & Music. 1
p.m. Free. 668-7652.
The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii:
Ancient Ritual, Modern Muse See
Thursday. Museum of Art. Free. 764-
0395.
CAMPUS CINEMA
Dancer in the Dark See Friday.
Michigan Theater, 4:30 & 7:30.
$5.50.
Gimme Shelter See Friday. Michigan
Theater, 8 p.m. $5.50.
MadCat Women's International Film
Festival - Interior Worlds (2000)
Phew, try saying that in one breath
with your mouth full. Tough. Michigan
Theater, 5 p.m. Free.
My Dog Skip See Saturday. Quality
16, 10 & 11 a.m. Free.
MUSIC
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
Hard rocking blues from the motor
city. Blind Pig, 208 South 1st. 10 p.m.
$15. 996-8555.
U-M University Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Kiesler conducts Bernstein
and Schubert. Hill Auditorium. 4 p.m.
Free. 764-8350.
THEA TER
A View from the Bridge See Thursday.
Trueblood Theater, Frieze building. 2
p.m. $15, $7 with student ID.
764-0450.
Of Thee i Sing See Thursday.
Mendelssohn Theater, Michigan
League. 2 p.m. $20, $15, $7 with
student ID. 764-0450.
The Maiden's Prayer See Thursday.
Performance Network, 120 E. Huron.
8 p.m. $17 ($3 discount for seniors;
group rates available.) 663-0681.
Act Without Words 1 & 2 Samuel
Beckett's style is demonstrated on
stage through two pantomimes.
Residential College Auditorium, East
Quad. 2 & 5 p.m. Free.
ALTERNATIVES
Robert E. Quinn Quinn reads from his
latest book, "Change the World."
Borders Arborland, 3527 Wastenaw. 7
p.m. Free. 677-6948.
Lionel Jensen Author reads from his
book of essays "Cina Beyond the
Headlines." Shaman Drum Bookshop.
8 p.m. Free. 662-7407.
The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii:
Ancient Ritual, Modern Muse See
Thursday. Museum of Art. Free. 764-
0395.
Monday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Dancer in the Dark See Friday.
Michigan Theater, 7:30 p.m. $5.50.
Gimme Shelter See Friday. Michigan
Theater, 7 p.m. $5.50.
X-Men (2000) Bring your comic
books, dude, we'll trade after the
show. Michigan Theater, 9 p.m.
$5.50.
MUSIC
John Brown's Body Reggae jam band
with University Alum on bass. The
Firefly Club, 207 S. Ashley. 8 p.m.
$8. 913-9900.
Pedro the Lion, Velour 100 West
Coast pop. Blind Pig,5208 South 1st.
10 p.m. $7. 996-8555.
Sunday
Judith Ingolfsson will perfor
Orchestra concert at Hill Au
ALTERNA TIVES
The Villa of the Mysteries in
Ancient Ritual, Modern Mus
Thursday. Museum of Art. F
0395.
Tuesday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Dancer in the Dark See Frid
Michigan Theater, 7:30 p.m
Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
on whether or not this hasr
to do with "Purple Rain" or
(The Artist Formerly Known
Prince). Michigan Theater,
$5.50.
Sergeant Rutledge (1960) (
to see this movie. Please, ii
the pay it forward movemer
Michigan Theater, 4:10 p.m
X-Men See Monday. MichigE
Theater, 9 p.m. $5.50.
MUSIC
Spaelimenninir Folk music f
Scandinavia. The Ark, 316
Main. 8.p.m. $13.50. 761-1
Rollie Tussing ll Acoustic t
folk from National Steeltgui
Gotta love the slide guitar.
122 W. Washington. 5 p.m.
761-2530.
A LTERNA TIVES
The Villa of the Mysteries it
The Canadian band Great Big Sea heads into town for their Saturday show at
the Michigan Theater.
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