A private women’s college, in New York City will begin to offering abortion pills to students starting as early as next year.
Reasoning behind this decision is to insure their students that health and wellness come first. Sian L. Beilock, president of Bernard had this to say, “ I think we’re putting a stake in the ground that we believe that health and wellness is really the institution’s responsibility for students, and we want to do everything we can to support our students.” The action was provoked by the reversal of Roe v Wade.
According to The New York Times Bernard believes the reversal of Roe v Wade will result negatively in all colleges around the country. For example there will likely be a decrease in college accessibility, decrease graduation rates, and will diminish employment rates.
Although abortion is accesible in New York City as of now, they are still planning ahead in case of future barriers that will attempt to alter the accessibility of abortions. Massachusetts public schools are now be required to offer abortion pills to students by November 2023.
CBS stated Bernard is the first to publicly come out and fight for these unprotected rights throughout the country and show how much they care. Women who are denied abortion rights over the 50 years of being illegal are more likely to rely on government programs like food stamps and struggle with finding employment and even end up on welfare. In Idaho they have made it clear they are not allowed to inform students about safe abortions or abortions in general because of the states banning of abortion.
California was the first to enable the laws of being able to provide college students abortion pills in 2019. Which has led to Massachusetts to do the same. The new laws stipulate action for public and private colleges by January.
When asking the Morningside University Health and Wellness center head nurse, she was very friendly until the question was asked. After the question of whether or not it was a good idea for Mornungside to begin this themselves her whole mood changed. She went from perky and excited to timid and standoffish. She then asked to leave her office if there wasn’t anything else and that she was no longer comfortable with helping.
A female student at Morningside named Emily stated, “I would be okay with it because it is more accessible for girls to have, without worrying about getting help or being criticized for their actions and well being.” Emily’s body language changed from timid to more confident when knowing that there were colleges reaching out to students for their well being and providing resources like this to them.
NBC has stated that lawmakers, in Massachusetts have passed a bill requiring medication abortion readiness plans for students that are due in November 2023. Meaning there will be required plans in tact for students that are pregnant and ready to have the baby by November of next year.
These new bills and laws are important women across the country due to the fact that there is no longer freedom of abortion in some parts of the United States. Women can now find colleges that are willing to backup and help provide for the well beings of their students even in situations like these. It is also important that colleges and other levels of school continue this push for female students and learn from Massachusetts and California schools and see how much impact they are creating with their new actions. It has only been three years since the beginning of thuis poush and the next three years can be even more drastic.