Deaton still debating condom plan

By Ettie Berneking

Published Nov. 13, 2007

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton still has not approved a proposal to make free condoms available in residence halls.

In an Oct. 19 Maneater report, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said Deaton was "close to a decision" on the plan. Missouri Students Association President Rachel Anderson said in the same report that she expected a response the week after.

Scroggs said last week that she had not talked to Deaton recently about the issue.

"The chancellor is still mulling it over," Scroggs said. "We're just going to have to wait and see how it unfolds."

Scroggs said the delay was a result of outside distractions.

"Other issues have come up and taken his attention away," she said.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the MU Student Health Center first proposed the program in October 2006. On Oct. 10, 2006, Deaton stopped the plan, saying it needed more research and discussion.

In December, Assistant to the Deputy Chancellor Roger Worthington served as moderator for a series of private forums on the issue.

On Oct. 21, 2006, the MSA Senate passed a resolution supporting the initiative with at 46-10 vote.

The Student Affairs Committee, College Democrats and the Interfraternity Council Executive Board supported the bill.

After the forums, Deputy Chancellor Michael Middleton approved the plan.

Mays said the forums mostly generated support for the distribution of condoms. But Scroggs said the feedback from the forums wasn't entirely supportive.

"For the most part, students weren't saying that they were opposed to having more condoms available," she said. "They wanted them to be discreetly placed."

Scroggs created the Residence's Sexual Health and Safety Products Task Force to develop a plan to address these issue. The committee submitted a plan to Scroggs at the end of last year.

In October, Scroggs said even if the plan were approved, the university would still need to find funding for it.

"The university is not going to pay for any of this," she said.

In fall of last year, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity offered to provide funding for the program.

Phi Beta Sigma Vice President Andrew Kelly said the university had since taken over the project.

"The fraternity would still be willing to donate toward the funding if it would get the ball rolling," he said.

He said he looks forward to seeing some progress.

The fraternity also received a donation of 3,000 condoms from the Boone County Health Department, William Monroe, regional HIV Councilor and test coordinator, said.

In an Oct. 3, 2006, Maneater report, then Phi Beta Sigma President Chris Keller said 75,000 condoms had been donated.

The Student Health Center, Women's Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center have male and female condoms available for no charge, included with sexual health resource cards and educational materials.