Bashful, inquisitive students glanced at the strange wagon in Pollock Union Building on Tuesday night.

When they noticed a bubble gum jar full of condoms, they poked each other in the ribs and laughed. Busy student volunteers from the Sexual Assault Resource Program invited the onlookers to accept brochures, fill out quizzes and guess the number of condoms in a bubble gum jar.

All week, as part of Healthy Loving Week activities, student volunteers staffed an information table in the HUB and accompanied the wellness wagon through the dining commons.

"Did you get a 'Be a Healthy Lover' ... Who didn't get a 'Be A Healthy Lover'?" boomed the voice of one student volunteer as she distributed the brochure. A passing student investigated the accumulation of literature in his hand and proceeded to accept another brochure.

"I think everybody's interested in sex and what we have to say about it," said student volunteer Michelle Taub (sophomore-IFS). "I'm amazed at how many people are out there who don't know about STD's."

"I've always been very open with and could talk about my sexuality," Taub said. "I really enjoy talking about it with other peers and have become like a sex therapist on my floor."

The volunteers, who completed a training program and earned four University credits, used their skills to lure students to the wellness wagon to distribute healthy loving materials and information.

Student volunteer Ann Kolodji (junior-psychology) said the program's open, fun atmosphere helps students become more open and comfortable with safer sex issues.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," Kolodji said. "It really makes a difference because the students listen to us."

The safer sex quiz provided amusement for many students. After taking the quiz, Dave Pasi (freshman-engineering) said he was unclear about certain questions. His friends razzed him when he said he could be more aware of some issues.

Other students who filled out the quiz were unsure about how many ways condoms could be used safely and how to prevent them from breaking.

Some brochure tips of how to be a healthy lover and how to talk about safe sex included keeping a sense of humor, paying attention to the partner's feelings, exploring alternatives and using a condom during every sexual encounter.

Bob Carr (junior-industrial engineering) said the volunteers did an excellent job of distributing important information. Also, he said he hopes the information he received will help him have more egalitarian, safer relationships.

The wagon's popularity left it empty by the night's end. Within a half hour the volunteers had distributed all of the balloons and by the end of the night three boxes of literature.