Georgetown University’s unofficial pro-choice student group, Hyas for Choice, is waiting for the University’s response to a petition they submitted two weeks ago demanding availability of condoms on campus.
According to Ingrid Specht (CAS ‘05), a board member of Hyas for Choice, over 1,200 students signed the petition.
Kristina Gupta (CAS ‘05), another board member of Hyas for Choice, believes that the group will soon meet with Juan Gonzalez, vice president for Student Affairs. Gonzalez was one of several administrators to receive a copy of the petition.
Gupta said that Director of Student Organizations Martha Swanson e-mailed the group about Gonzalez’ desire to meet with us about our SAC application and the petition. Gupta said that although Gonzalez has been on vacation, the group hopes to meet with him when he returns.
Hyas for Choice hopes to meet with the other administrators as well, including DeGioia, and convince them to allow condom distribution on campus.
“Ideally, we would like the University to distribute condoms from the Student Care Clinic and in the dorms,” Gupta said.
However, Hyas for Choice would also “be satisfied if the University allowed on-campus vendors [Vital Vittles and Wisemiller’s Deli] to sell condoms,” said Gupta.
Hyas for Choice does not know what the University’s response will be, but they are prepared to take action if it is positive, Gupta said.
“If the University’s response is positive, we will try to make sure that the University actually implements its promises. We are looking for tangible results,” she said.
Gupta said she hopes that when given the opportunity to meet with Hyas for Choice, administrators will recognize that students support condoms on campus.
According to Gupta, when the group begins to meet with the University, they will be able to point to the rally as more evidence that students really do care about this issue, and are willing to make themselves heard.
Hyas for Choice, which first applied for and was denied University funding in 1990, does not have any plans for another rally in the near future, and instead is planning to focus on meeting with administrators to encourage condom availability.
Laura Pierson, the president of Georgetown University Right to Life, which is recognized by the University, responded to the Hyas for Choice rally and petition.
“Right to Life fully supports the spiritual, emotional, physical, and sexual health of students. At stake, however, is a very different issue-whether or not the university ought to undermine its Catholic principles for the sake of convenience.
“We find it tragic that Hyas for Choice continues to hide its pro-abortion agenda under the guise of advocating sexual health,” she said.
