More than a year after Phi Beta Sigma fraternity conceived a plan to offer free condoms in MU residence halls, Chancellor Brady Deaton is expected to respond to a revised proposal.

The response can be expected early next week, Missouri Students Association President Rachel Anderson stated in an e-mail.

Anderson said Deaton drafted a response to the condom proposal, and she met with Deaton and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs on Monday.

Scroggs said if the plan were approved, the university would still need to find funding for it. She said there is no money set aside to implement the plan.

“I think people thought that this would happen right away, but there was no plan for implementation,” Scroggs said.

Scroggs said there is also not a plan for distributing the condoms. She said the task force charged with creating the proposal for Deaton’s consideration had looked into the cost of tamperproof machines to dispense the condoms.

Scroggs said she didn’t know how much the plan would cost or how long it would take to implement if approved.

But Scroggs did confirm that Deaton is “close to a decision.”

In September 2006, Phi Beta Sigma proposed a partnership with the university and the health department to find a way to place condoms in residence halls.

But in October 2006, Deaton halted the plan. He stated in a news release that the plan needed further study.

Deaton said the project was part of a broader issue and needed a greater amount of research than had been conducted at that time. In December, Assistant to the Deputy Chancellor Roger Worthington moderated a series of private forums on the issue.

After the forums, Deputy Chancellor Michael Middleton approved the plan, and stated in an e-mail to Worthington that only logistical obstacles remained.

In February, the condom task force committee met for the first time to discuss the logistical issues.

After the meeting, Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said condoms would not be available until at least Fall Semester 2007.

This article was provided by: The Maneater
Written by: Allie Blood