Student Gov. Sets Abortion Pills, Reproductive Health As Next Priorities
Students gathered at a reproductive rights forum hosted by the student government on Tuesday, Feb. 21 to voice concerns about the availability of abortions and emergency contraception on campus.
(Students attend an abortion access forum organized by NYU’s student government. | Sheridan Smith via Washington Square News)
by Graylin Lucas
This story was originally published on New York University’s Washington Square News.
Students voiced their concerns about reproductive justice and sexual health on campus at a abortion access forum on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The event was hosted by the health and wellness committee of NYU’s student government. Members of the committee plan to use student feedback from the event to give direction to a resolution on abortion access, which will be voted on in March.
The committee hopes to use the resolution to introduce abortion pills to the Student Health Center. It also plans toestablish a task force of students and faculty to evaluate student needs and improve university reproductive health care policies, according to committee member Aarna Dixit.
At the forum, which was held at the Kimmel Center for University Life, many students said that they would appreciate it if NYU would provide access to more forms of reproductive health care, such as free elective abortions. NYU senior Francesca Seni Pardo said she is concerned about students being charged for abortion pills.
“I think getting abortion access on campus is just the logical extension of just any general sexual or reproductive health care,” Pardo said. “It’s about meeting student needs, and I think if NYU already takes that step to provide free condoms in residential halls and free STD testing for all students, regardless of insurance, then this is the logical extension of providing the care necessary for the students here.”
Read the rest of the story at Washington Square News.