For the first time in over a decade, Hyas for Choice is applying to be recognized as an official Georgetown club by the Student Activities Commission. If the effort succeeds, the organization will be eligible to receive Student Activities Commission funding.
Hyas for Choice, a pro-life organization, was initially denied SAC funding in 1990 due to the conflict between the club’s promotion of the use of contraceptives and the University’s policy disallowing the sale or provision of contraceptives on campus.
Since the system was altered in 1990, all potential clubs must first apply to be affiliated with the University before they can receive financial backing. Other organizations are permitted to exist on campus but are not given any kind of University aid. The group has remained unassociated with the University and thus must use an asterisk instead of the letter o, since the name ‘Hoyas’ is owned by the University. Hyas for choice has chosen not to reapply for funding until the present.
Kristina Gupta (CAS ‘05), a Hyas for Choice board member, said that the necessary application documents, which include a club constitution and a list of founding members, have already been submitted to SAC. A decision will be issued after a representative of Hyas for Choice appears before a SAC panel.
Gupta says that the group chose this time to reapply because of the current setbacks faced by the club. She said that the recent decision barring students from displaying condoms on the outside of on-campus bedroom doors is an instance of the generally inhospitable attitude held by the University towards the pro-choice movement.
“We feel that we need to aggressively raise the issue of reproductive health and choice on our campus,” she said.
Vice President for Student Affairs Juan Gonzalez said that Hyas for Choice’s application for SAC funding would be examined closely in order to determine compliance with University policy. Hyas for Choice is also circulating a petition this week in favor of allowing condoms on campus. It includes over 1200 signatures and will be submitted to the administration Friday morning.
Hyas for Choice will hold a rally on Friday, March 28 in Red Square to protest Georgetown’s policy on contraceptives.
