Vending machines offer medicine after hours
The new machines provide over-the-counter medicines in residential halls.
Melody Chiu
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News
Medicinal vending machines were installed in multiple USC-owned apartments and dormitories this weekend, allowing students easy access to over-the-counter medicine.
Owen Caine, Undergraduate Student Government assistant director of university affairs, began working with TrojanHousing, TrojanHospitality, the USC pharmacy and the Student Health Center last November to make over-the-counter medicine available in residence halls.
The medicinal vending machines can be found in Troy Hall, Fluor Tower, Marks Hall, Cardinal Gardens, Century Apartments, Everybody's Kitchen, the Arts and Humanities Residential College and the International Residential College at Parkside.
Caine said the idea for medicinal vending machines occurred to him his freshman year when he was living at Parkside.
"There were several times when I had a headache or I wouldn't be feeling well and it would be too late to walk across campus or outside of campus," he said. "There's nowhere really to buy medicine in the middle of the night so this is one of the services I thought students would take."
After researching how other universities across the nation offered students medicine 24 hours a day, Caine pitched the idea of medicinal vending machines to the various TrojanServices departments.
Items offered in the vending machines were selected by TrojanHousing and TrojanServices and include over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol, Alka Seltzer, Motrin and condoms.
The vending machines are located in the laundry rooms and lobbies of the residence halls. Each packet of medicine costs 75 cents.
USG President Sahil Chaudry said Caine used USG's advocacy resources to help facilitate the installation of the machines.
"I think that as an assistant director, Owen took a leadership position and really made something happen that he cared about," he said.
Darin Gaytan, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering, said the vending machines are a relief because he no longer has to walk across campus to the pharmacy to buy pain relievers.
Ana Hernandez, a freshman majoring in biology, said offering condoms in the vending machines is unnecessary because students can already get them for free.
"I think it's stupid," she said. "You can get condoms for free from RAs or go to the prevention center, but the medicine [offered] is convenient."
Dennis Hsu, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, said medicinal vending machines should be installed in more buildings on campus.
"I think [the vending machines are] a good idea because the health center is far," he said. "I think it'd be a good idea to put them in Taper Hall of Humanities or other classrooms, though."
Owen Caine, Undergraduate Student Government assistant director of university affairs, began working with TrojanHousing, TrojanHospitality, the USC pharmacy and the Student Health Center last November to make over-the-counter medicine available in residence halls.
The medicinal vending machines can be found in Troy Hall, Fluor Tower, Marks Hall, Cardinal Gardens, Century Apartments, Everybody's Kitchen, the Arts and Humanities Residential College and the International Residential College at Parkside.
Caine said the idea for medicinal vending machines occurred to him his freshman year when he was living at Parkside.
"There were several times when I had a headache or I wouldn't be feeling well and it would be too late to walk across campus or outside of campus," he said. "There's nowhere really to buy medicine in the middle of the night so this is one of the services I thought students would take."
After researching how other universities across the nation offered students medicine 24 hours a day, Caine pitched the idea of medicinal vending machines to the various TrojanServices departments.
Items offered in the vending machines were selected by TrojanHousing and TrojanServices and include over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol, Alka Seltzer, Motrin and condoms.
The vending machines are located in the laundry rooms and lobbies of the residence halls. Each packet of medicine costs 75 cents.
USG President Sahil Chaudry said Caine used USG's advocacy resources to help facilitate the installation of the machines.
"I think that as an assistant director, Owen took a leadership position and really made something happen that he cared about," he said.
Darin Gaytan, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering, said the vending machines are a relief because he no longer has to walk across campus to the pharmacy to buy pain relievers.
Ana Hernandez, a freshman majoring in biology, said offering condoms in the vending machines is unnecessary because students can already get them for free.
"I think it's stupid," she said. "You can get condoms for free from RAs or go to the prevention center, but the medicine [offered] is convenient."
Dennis Hsu, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, said medicinal vending machines should be installed in more buildings on campus.
"I think [the vending machines are] a good idea because the health center is far," he said. "I think it'd be a good idea to put them in Taper Hall of Humanities or other classrooms, though."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brant Alexander
posted 6/11/08 @ 8:22 PM PST
I have been interested in this concept for some time and have been considering implementing this idea in the campus area of OU in Oklahoma. I am a pharmacist and see students needing more medical resources close by to to complement their busy lifestyle. (Continued…)
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