If you have ever been inside the Starbucks on campus, you have likely taken notice of the vending machine stocked with contraceptives, chargers, medication, deodorant, feminine products and other emergency toiletries. FGCU’s Pharmabox is a great resource for students on campus. One of the biggest lessons college students learn is that “life happens,” so learning to adapt and be resilient is a big part of the game.

Class won’t be canceled because you have a cough, migraine or can’t get to a CVS between work and class. You still must do what you’re here to do. Therefore, having a quick-and-easy solution to everyday problems like seasonal allergies, headaches or broken phone chargers can be beneficial to all students. What can not be beneficial to students is having to purchase antidiarrheals, condoms, or a morning-after pill three feet away from your classmates enjoying a Starbucks coffee.

The products provided in the Pharmabox are not only illuminated by LED lights and retrieved by a swooping robotic motion but they are blown up big on a touch screen when selected. There is no hiding from purchasing emergency tampons or spare undergarments. Especially when the machine is in one of the busiest areas on campus for socializing, studying and eating. It makes one wonder, how can Pharmabox be privatized while still being just as accessible to all students. One solution is for it to be relocated.

Here are a few possible locations: 

• Move it to one of the back halls on the second, third or fourth floor of the library. Specifically, the fourth floor is almost never busy, very quiet and provides significantly more privacy for any students in need of the machine. It is just a big loop with very few classrooms, offices and a conference room. The bookshelves in the back-left corner of the fourth floor could be easily consolidated and rearranged to make room for the Pharmabox. 

• Rehome the Pharmabox to the west entrance of the library near the Center for Academic Achievement. This location is more accessible to students with mobility differences as it will not require the use of stairs or elevators, unlike the previous suggestion. While this area does see a fair amount of traffic, it is nowhere near as much as the three entrances to Starbucks. If the Pharmabox were to be placed in the area where there is currently a large monitor and a leather couch, it could be angled in a way that the items students are purchasing could not be directly observed. Additionally, the leather couch in that corridor could be moved to the Starbucks lounge or the CAA to provide additional seating. 

• Relocate the Pharmabox to Prevention and Wellness. This makes the most sense as far as intention goes. The purpose of Prevention and Wellness is to provide wellness information and resources to all students. Prevention and Wellness already provides free condoms in their office or through online requests, so, placing such a diverse resource there seems glaringly on-theme. This would also help spread the word that students do not have to purchase condoms from Pharmabox. The Prevention and Wellness office provides over a dozen different varieties of condoms for free. 

The relocation of the Pharmabox has just as many benefits as the Pharmabox itself. The truth is, that Pharmabox exists for less-than-awesome moments in our lives. There are fires we do not need our friends, classmates and strangers to watch us put out.

Personally, in my two-ish years at FGCU, I have spent just as many hours in Starbucks as I have in my own dorm. Never once have I seen the Pharmabox utilized and I find this incredibly unfortunate. The products in that machine could really turn someone’s day around but the location of it can be humiliating. While there is no shame in needing anything from Pharmabox, there are some things we want to keep private.

Move the Pharmabox somewhere more private and give FGCU students more seating in Starbucks in its place! Relocating the Pharmabox would simultaneously improve the function of one of the busiest establishments and access to the machine.