Condom plan timeline stretches

The dispenser's specifications caused an increased production time.

By Andrea Kszystyniak

Published Nov. 7, 2008

A plan to distribute condoms in MU residence halls is waiting on new dispensers, but a student group says it would take action if the condoms aren't installed soon.

The dispensers, which were supposed to be placed by November, have yet to be seen in any of the six residence halls participating in the program. These contraceptives were supposed to be installed after a survey was administered to the incoming freshmen class about the issues of birth control and sexual activity. The Sexual Health and Safety Products Task Force conducted the survey last semester.

The task force later piloted the idea for dispensers and has been working to get them installed ever since.

Student Health Center director Susan Even said the dispensers should be arriving on campus shortly.

"We have word from the manufacturer of the dispensers that they are in the preparation phase. We are expecting them sometime soon," Even said. "The dispensers were custom-made which added to the production time."

The original model of the dispensers did not allow for the proper dispensing of the condoms. The initial plan called for the machine to dispense condoms enclosed in plastic bags. Because of the size, the packaging had to be reworked, delaying the custom construction of the dispensers.

Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the specificity of the design of the dispensers is part of the reason that they are not installed yet.

"We wanted to have educational information provided with the product and most machines aren't made that way so we had to special order the dispensers," Scroggs said. "We found out we couldn't get the packaging that we wanted so we were having special materials made."

Even said the machines will be installed as soon as possible after their arrival on campus.

"We are ready when they do arrive," Even said. "The products have been inserted in the packages that the dispensers will accommodate. Also, education materials and posters have been developed that will accompany the dispensers in specific areas."

Blake Lawrence, speaker of congress for the Residence Halls Association, said RHA would consider taking action if these dispensers are not installed by Thanksgiving.

Lawrence was speaking as Speaker of Congress for the RHA, not a member of Sexual Health Advocate Peer Education nor as an employee as the department of residential life.

"There was some issues with some extraneous fees getting the machines across the border because we ordered them from a Canadian company," Lawrence said. "The fee was $255 and RHA footed that bill."

Lawrence went on to say that RHA has committed a great deal of money to the dispensers.

"In terms of RHA legislation, we footed a lot of the bill," he said. "RHA was in a situation where we were running out of money. Our recourse for that could be a revolution in the future."

Lawrence went on to say the students had spoken in terms of legislative resolution.

"We're still waiting on tangible action in terms of the issues." Lawrence said. "The students have spoken and the university should react."

After a long-standing debate, many students are anxious to receive these dispensers. The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity first presented the condom initiative in 2006. The fraternity hoped to put condoms on every floor in the residence halls. The plan was later halted by Chancellor Brady Deaton for more discussion. Before dispensers could be installed, Deaton wanted to be sure that five conditions would be met.

He wanted to ensure that the university would not provide funding for the programs and that all dispensers should be located in areas that are private and be immune to tampering. The individual residence hall governments must request the dispensers and that the university would conduct an evaluation of the sexual health program's effectiveness. Deaton also wanted one or more student groups to provide active support in both the planning and implementation phase of this project.