Ten years ago, with a fellow student, I started a group at GW called GW Students for Choice to organize students to be activists for reproductive rights. It is wonderful to see that thanks to the efforts of GW students, the University, with its decision to include contraceptives in the student health plan, will be doing the right thing to ensure prescription drug equity for female students. For far too long, female students have had to shell out hundreds of dollars a year for contraceptives even though other prescription drugs are covered by the insurance plan.
The students who led the effort to bring about this change should be commended by all, including those who are against abortion. With the increased availability of contraceptives, there is a reduction in the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, and thus abortions. The school’s policy also will help students be more responsible about their sexuality and treats students as the adults they are.
-Corene Kendrick
class of 1994
This article appeared in the September 5, 2002 issue of the Hatchet.
