RHA pushes hard for condom plan
RHA president wants to file a resolution asking officials to hurry the plan.
Published Nov. 11, 2008
A plan to put contraceptives in residence halls might officially be out of the hands of the Residence Halls Association, but they're pushing administration for quicker distribution anyway.
RHA gave money to the distribution of condom dispensers, but since the Department of Residential Life is in charge of further arrangements, the condom distribution isn't under RHA's control. However, RHA president Bobby Wood said he believes a resolution will help move the process along. He hopes to sponsor such a resolution for next Monday's RHA Congress meeting.
After hearing that the installation of condom dispensers was delayed, Wood contacted RHA Speaker of Congress Blake Lawrence with an idea for legislation.
Wood said the legislation would mostly be a reminder coming from students who want quick action. They hope to set a specific date, shooting for the end of Thanksgiving break.
"It's going to be a reminder piece saying we still support this, but also urge the Department of Residential Life to take action, making sure this gets in the halls as soon as possible," Wood said. "Ideally that would also give us an opportunity to have them in the halls this semester so we have part of a semester for feedback."
The university has a responsibility to its students, said Lawrence, who co-authored the bill with RHA Reps. Mike Madden, Doug Cowing and Nicholas Duvall.
"I would like to be involved with pushing it forward because it's a good idea," Cowing said about why he joined to coalition of co-authors. "It needs to be in the residence halls because it's promoting proper education and safe ideals."
Two years ago, a fraternity proposed a plan to put contraceptives and sexual health information in residence halls. To study the issue, the chancellor appointed a task force, which eventually recommended using dispenser machines. Last month, administrators said the dispensers would be in place by November. RHA wants to remind the administration of the timeline they have in place.
Lawrence said everyone involved wanted to make the biggest impact possible. The co-authors will look into the problems so they can be more closely addressed in the wording of the resolution. Lawrence said he is also exploring the possibility of passing a joint resolution with Missouri Students Association and Legion of Black Collegians.
Their goal is to pass unanimous legislation in internal committee and RHA Congress, so the wording is important.
"We were wanting to make sure the language was thorough so it wouldn't rub anyone the wrong way and it would have full support," Wood said.
The idea for the resolution came on Friday at 6 p.m., an hour after the 5 p.m. deadline to file legislation for that Monday's RHA meeting.
Although Lawrence told Wood he would include it this week if it were written in time, they eventually decided it would be better to save the legislation for a Congressional meeting. If the legislation passes internal committee as they hope, it will go to a Congressional vote to be passed and become official.
- News editor Anna Koeppel contributed to this report.