Panel to discuss condom plan
RHA passed a resolution urging administrators to accept the plan.
Oct. 24, 2006
MU administrators are planning to go through with the promised discussions about providing condoms in residence halls, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said.
MU Chancellor Brady Deaton halted a plan on Oct. 10 by the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity to provide free condoms on every floor in residence halls. A news release stated that the initiative required further study.
Scroggs said she hopes the discussions, which will include a panel of experts, will take place before Thanksgiving.
"I think it would provide more people to have more input," she said. "We want to be sure that we allow everyone to have a say."
The news release stated that the discussions will include the views of student affairs professionals, health care and health policy professionals, parents, faculty, staff, students and other concerned parties.
She said the forum would not necessarily lead to a reversal of Deaton's decision.
"We have a lot of information that tells us one point of view," she said. "We want to hear from people that don't agree."
The news release said the plan became public before it could be "appropriately reviewed and discussed by appropriate university leadership."
Phi Beta Sigma President Chris Keller was not available for comment, but has said earlier that members of his fraternity would be present at any such forum to support the plan.
In previous interviews, Keller said that Phi Beta Sigma organized a donation of 75,000 condoms to be put in the residence halls by the Columbia/Boone County Health Department. Female condoms and dental wraps also were going to be provided in girls' bathrooms. The fraternity planned to also donate plus-size condoms, such as Magnum. Janitors would have restocked the containers as needed.
The plan to put condoms in the residence halls was originally approved by the Department of Residential Life during a meeting on Sept. 13.
The Residence Hall Association passed a resolution encouraging the administration to incorporate the plan, and the Legion of Black Collegians passed a resolution not to support it. Both passed the resolutions after Deaton stopped the plan.
The RHA passed the resolution to "promote safe health measures concerning safe sex," RHA President Justin Ginter said.
He said the resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority in both an internal meeting and general assembly.
LBC President Jabari Turner was not available for comment.
Turner told The Maneater on Thursday that he thinks the majority of the members opposed the initiative because of their religious beliefs.
Missouri Students Association President John Andersen said a resolution about the initiative is being drafted. He said for the initiative to go to vote on Wednesday, it must be drafted by today at noon.
Andersen told The Maneater in an earlier interview that he supported the plan.
"I think we need to do what's in the best interest of all the students, and the condom plan is the best interest," he said.
Clifton Berry, the father of an MU freshman, wrote a letter to UM system President Elson Floyd dated Sept. 25, protesting the plan.
"As a father, I am concerned that your actions have the potential for endangering my daughter by encouraging those who lack discipline in the area of their sexuality," he said in the letter, which was then forwarded to Deaton.
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