Planned Parenthood's Emergency Contraception Van came to the University yesterday, sponsored by the student group Voices of Planned Parenthood.
Emergency contraception, also known as the "morning-after pill," is a form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation or fertilization up to 120 hours after sexual intercourse.
Although the Elson Student Health Center provides emergency contraception to students, members of VOX: Voices of Planned Parenthood said they felt it was important to create more awareness about the contraception.
"We brought the van just to promote E.C.," VOX President Kimberly Goumenis said. "The Student Health Center doesn't promote it as much or educate people about it."
Some students agreed that awareness about contraception options could be improved.
"The average incoming student is not aware," said Jill Raney, Allies of Women Attaining Knowledge and Enrichment president. "I wasn't when I came to college. I don't think there is any education for first years about birth control at all."
While VOX's sponsorship of the van could help raise necessary awareness and accessibility, some University students questioned the easy availability of the contraception on Grounds.
"They say it doesn't constitute an abortion, but it depends how you define abortion," First Right Vice President Christine Elliot said. "I do think they should inform women that if they take this pill that they have no way of knowing whether it will cause an abortion."
Some female students said they feel seeing a doctor before using emergency contraception is preferable.
Women need more than a pill to deal with a traumatizing experience such as rape, NEW President Karin Agness said.
"I think rape victims need more comprehensive care," she said. "In no other cases that are as traumatizing as rape are victims just given a pill to deal with their situation."
According to VOX members, however, emergency contraception is important in preventing unplanned pregnancies from consensual sexual intercourse and sexual assault.
"Even if you're not sexually active, sexual assault, rape, incest: Things like that can happen to anyone, so E.C. is a way to prevent unintended pregnancies from those unfortunate occurrences," VOX Publicist Coordinator Laura Fischer said.
Since emergency contraception is not available without a prescription, some students said they felt having emergency contraception on hand was better than having to go to Student Health.
Emergency contraception is effective up to 120 hours after intercourse, but is most effective if taken within 24 hours. It helps to have emergency contraception on hand, especially on weekends when Student Health is not open, Raney said.
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