Condom plan to slowly unwrap
Feb. 16, 2007
The plan to place condoms in residence halls, originally conceived by students, could soon be delivered by the MU administration.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs is working with "concerned student groups and health professionals" to develop a plan to provide sexual health devices in the residence halls," Deputy Chancellor Michael Middleton stated in an e-mail.
Chancellor Brady Deaton approved the plan in December but did not publicize the approval.
"Campus administration will review the implementation plan before any decision about its future," Middleton stated previously.
Chris Keller, president of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, said the administration has not contacted the fraternity about its involvement in these planning stages. The fraternity proposed the original plan to bring free condoms to residence halls in September.
"They haven't made it clear what our role is going to be," he said.
Deaton halted the plan in October in order to conduct more discussion about the issue. The fraternity and Keller campaigned for the plan's approval throughout that time.
Scroggs said she met with Residential Life Director Frankie Minor and Student Health Director Susan Even in the last couple weeks to discuss the plan.
"They are working with a group of faculty and students from residence halls to develop an implementation plan that they can propose to us," Scroggs said.
Scroggs said student staff members in residence halls and student health educators will play a role in choosing a plan.
The main concerns raised in several public debates involved logistical issues, especially the issue of people tampering with the condoms.
Keller said the original plan was to provide the condoms in open baskets, which sparked debate about the safety of containers for condoms.
"(The plan) was something that got stopped for a while and now we're starting back up," Even said.
She said the new planning process has not yet begun, though is being formulated. Both Scroggs and Keller said it would take at least until the end of the semester to put together an overall plan for the initiative.
"We just got the OK to begin working on this," Scroggs said.
Keller said the Columbia/Boone County Health Department is still willing to provide the condoms. Originally, the health department was to provide the first year's supply of condoms.
Even said on the health education side, they plan to "touch base" with students, particularly Student Health Advocates Peer Education, but "the actual details need to be coordinated by the health educators."
She said SHAPE coordinator Heather Mueller will be the health educator in charge.
Several student groups, including SHAPE, the Residence Halls Association, the Missouri Students Association and the Legion of Black Collegians, have supported the approval of the plan at several public debates.
The Maneater obtained an e-mail two weeks ago through Missouri Sunshine Law from Middleton to Roger Worthington, assistant to the Deputy Chancellor.
"Recognizing the serious public health issues involved, the concept of increasing access to safety devices in residence halls is improved," Middleton stated in the e-mail.
"At this point I'm happy it's even going," Keller said. "It's a big relief."
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