In choosing to attend Saint Mary's, I was fully aware of its Catholic affiliation. However, as schools that explicitly pride themselves on the diversity of the student bodies, I anticipated that Saint Mary's and the Notre Dame communities would be open to other faiths and cultures as well. Though both schools receive much of their backing from Catholic organizations, one would hope that such "liberal" schools would not try to impose their beliefs on any attendee. To me, this does not seem to be the case.

One of yesterday's letters to the editor proposed that admission to Notre Dame be dependent not only on grades, test scores, etc., but also on the students' compliance with Catholic doctrines. The writer suggested that students must agree with Catholicism to attend. Is this the course the schools wish to take? While it is true that a majority of students here are Catholic, there are certainly other faiths and belief systems well represented on our campuses. Our community would be lacking if those students had been turned away based on their faith.

I am familiar with the Catholic stance regarding sex and the du Lac's prohibition of sex on campus. Possibly the administration truly believes that if it's in the du Lac, it's what is practiced. Right. Walk into any dorm on a Friday night, follow the sound of loud music and people, and you are sure to find plenty of du Lac violations. Perhaps I am one of the few realistic people who see that within a large group of social youngsters, sex happens. My friends tell me that at their non-religious affiliated schools, they need go no farther than their RA for advice, information, condoms, etc. It is appalling that this community doesn't even offer the opportunity for students to be safe if they do engage in the forbidden intercourse.

This attitude pervades even the school Health Services. All of my sisters and I have had to take birth control pills for health reasons — not to guard against our promiscuous ways — but to alleviate a hormone imbalance. When I tried to fill my prescription through Health Services, I was treated rather rudely. Initially I was told that they "just couldn't deliver that prescription" for me. After speaking with several different nurses to determine why (not even thinking of the sexual implications), I was informed that they needed a letter signed by the prescribing doctor that diagnosed the condition for which I took the medication. They also needed to speak with the doctor. This was a terrible inconvenience.

Just because I attend a Catholic university does not mean that I ascribe to Catholic beliefs. At school, the administration must assume some sort of responsibility as surrogate parents to students. This, to me, means that they must also take responsibility for our health. The Catholic beliefs made it very difficult for me to get necessary medication and make it nearly impossible for non-abstaining students to protect themselves from STDs.

I'm not asking that either school outwardly advocate or condone sexual relations. I agree wholeheartedly that sex is sacred and most appropriate in marriage. Nevertheless, sex does occur here. No amount of faith can deny that. Religion aside, both Saint Mary's and Notre Dame need to realize that the safety and health of students should concern them far more than their doctrinal principles.

• Catholic isn't all that counts