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The Rocket www.theonlinerocket.com
Friday, February 17, 2012
Plan B vending problem in PA
Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper
Est. 1934
Volume 95, Number 16
Students, APSCUF plan rally against budget
JASON ELLWANGER/THE ROCKET
SRU students at last year's rally on March 22, 2011 protested cuts
By Will Deshong Rocket Staff Reporter
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LIANA PITTMAN/THE ROCKET
Shippensburg University has been receiving a lot of criticism for their vending machine that dispenses contraceptives including Plan B.
By Jonathan Janasik Rocket News Contributor
A machine that dispenses Plan B One-Step along with other forms of contraception at Shippensburg University of Pa. has faced recent criticism. The President of Shippensburg University, Bill Ruud, made a statement on February 9 saying that there have been recent questions about the ethics of having a Plan B machine. Ruud addressed these concerns by saying that a majority of universities in the nation also offer Plan B. He stressed the fact that students are encouraged to speak with the counseling staff of student services about the issue. Ruud also stated that the machine is not funded by the state or by taxpayers’ dollars. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as well as members of the campus and community are currently reevaluating the campus’s dispensing practices. Until a decision is made, Shipp ensburg w i l l ke ep t he machine. Executive Director for University Communications and Marketing at Shippensburg University, Dr. Peter
Gigliotti said that the machine was installed over two years ago. The vending machine dispenses Plan B for $25, along with other forms of contraception, cough drops, and other general medications. The records for the machine state that they have sold an estimated 350 to 400 Plan B pills per year. While it is illegal to sell Plan B to anybody under the age of 17, Gigliotti states that identification is checked before students are allowed to enter the health center where the machine is located. “In the two years that we’ve had the machine, I have never heard a single complaint about it,” said Gigliotti. Slippery Rock University Health Promotion Coordinator, Renee Bateman, stated that SRU has not considered adding such a machine to the health center. “The Slippery Rock Health Center is open 24 hours when classes are in session,” explained Bateman. “We do have ECP or ‘Plan B’ available to students, as well as other forms of contraception such as condoms and prescriptions to the pill, or the patch.” If a student is in need of emergency contraception, Bateman recommends meeting with a nurse
at the health center right away. Students at SRU seem to be split down the middle on this issue. Students seem to be more concerned about the business and accessibility sides of the argument, rather than any moral implications. Lisa C orrell, a sophomore a c c o u n t i n g m a j o r, d o e s n ' t understand why colleges and universities would consider adding one of these vending machines. "It doesn't make sense to me business-wis e," C or rell s aid. " Ve n d i ng m a ch i n e s are for convenience and impulse buys. I'm not going to buy the morning after pill from a vending machine because they're not your first line of defense regarding birth control choice. That's kind of their point to begin with, it's for when your other methods fail." While Correll doesn't believe these machines are beneficial, Lauren Buckel, a junior political science and philosophy major, thinks these machines are a great idea for campuses. "It's a good thing because it gives people more access than they would normally have if they had to go to a store and just keep looking for it," Buckel said. "You know that there's one place that you can go and find it."
Students at Slippery Rock University will have the opportunity to express concern about Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cuts to higher education through a variety of events scheduled for this month. Corbett is seeking to cut 20 percent, or $82.5 million, of funding to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools for the upcoming fiscal year. The Republican governor already cut funding by a record 18 percent a year ago. Students, faculty and administrators around all PASSHE schools are holding protests as the state budget hearings are set to begin next week. The SRU Student Government Association is leading the protest amongst students on campus, with a series of events aimed to bring attention to the matter. It’s something that SGA President Jordan Bailley feels is important to campus life. “I believe it’s important to bring the issue of funding into discussion on our campus and around Pennsylvania,” Bailley said. “Not simply every February when the budget is discussed, but all year round. It’s been my goal since elected to have an engaged student body. An engaged student body can listen and respond when issues like higher education are discussed.” SGA is teaming up with several organizations to accomplish the protests, most notably partnering with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) to host a rally on Feb. 28 during common hour in the quad. The rally will be centered on the release of balloons in a symbolic gesture. APSCUF is funding the event. “This will be an environmentally friendly balloon release signifying our dissatisfaction with the proposed budget,” Bailley said. “The balloons signify the funding being cut from higher education in Pennsylvania. Some people are looking into adding supplemental activities to this, including speakers on behalf of higher education.” Jace Condravy, the SRU president of APSCUF, expects strong support from the student body during the assembly. “Students will be directly affected by the governor’s proposal, so we expect that many students will want to have their voices heard,” Condravy said. SGA plans to hold smaller events during the week as well in order to inform as many students as possible SEE SGA, PAGE A-3