Planned Parenthood’s funding hangs in the balance as some adults,
both young and old, may choose to use alternative methods and resources
to ensure that their needs are taken care of if Planned Parenthood can
no longer offer the services at its current or previous rates.
Southern’s campus offers a Women’s Center, the Men’s Initiative, and
the campus health center to assist students. But how many students take
advantage of these on-campus resources verses Planned Parenthood or
their own doctor?
“Being a student here for the last four years, I can honestly say the
only resource I’m aware of that deals with anything medically is the
Health Services building,” student Kelsey Christian said. “I’m not
certain if they offer any options towards pregnancies, and in the event
that they don’t, I think that’s when I’d go to Planned Parenthood. I
know the Women’s Center exists but I’ve never been to any programs.”
Christian also said while Planned Parenthood gained a “bad
reputation” in association with abortions, she praised the organization
for what else they do, such as STI and HIV testing.
“Planned Parenthood is an incredible organization that surprisingly
offers more options besides abortions,” she said. “I think they’re
fighting to gain their light back as a respectable organization on
campus and that the support for them and funding from the university
needs to increase.”
Maayra Nieves, a student as well as a worker in the Women’s Center,
explained how the Woman’s Center handles student pregnancies versus how
Planned Parenthood may handle the issue.
“All the information they have at Planned Parenthood we have at the
center,” she said. “We have all the resources and contact information
for different situations. If a girl gets pregnant or a guy gets a girl
pregnant, we set them up with counseling free at SCSU for students, give
them information and contact information and work with them to make
appointments. We do not have birth control; however the health center on
campus provides it with a co-pay if you have SCSU insurance. We work
closely with Planned Parenthood so we try our best to do what we can.”
In addition, Southern’s website states that the Women’s Center and
the Men’s Initiative “aim to empower and educate the campus and local
community on gender issues.”
Cory Sharnick, a 21-year-old Southern student, said he thinks that
places like the Women’s Center are a good thing, but may be more useful
if they had multiple locations around campus.
“I think that SCSU offers excellent resources for students to
understand STDs and how to prevent sudden parenthood,” Sharnick said.
“Both the Women’s Center and D.A.R.C. [Drug and Alcohol Resource Center]
in Schwartz Hall are educational and effective in my opinion. They may
become more effective centers if multiple locations are offered around
campus.”
Planned Parenthood as well as campus resources, like the Women’s
Center, are there to assist students if the issues of STIs, sudden
pregnancies and sexual assault should occur. Students are not alone and
not without resources from the campus or the surrounding community.
http://thesouthernnews.org/2012/03/28/scsu-resources-offer-womens-health-information/