Health Services: The Morning After at FIT

By Madison Barton (AMC

“College is a time for experimenting and having fun,” a line we have all heard throughout our childhoods. However, when the rights to abortion are put under siege, it’s important that everyone is aware of their options. While most students know that the Health Services offer checks on colds and medical emergencies, not every student knows about the wide range of other services FIT offers.

The laws on abortion have become stricter. People are becoming more uncertain about where to turn and who to trust. As a girl in a new city, and for some people a new country, it’s a common fear many people have faced. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the right to a safe abortion has already been revoked in 13 states. To combat the cut in legal abortions, a new abortion pill has been introduced. This is a safer and more accessible option which is being distributed across the US which can be discreetly delivered. This can reduce the need for surgical abortions.

I visited Health Services to understand how this change impacts FIT students. In Health Services, I spoke to the head of Health Services, Anne Miller, to see how FIT was handling this subject. The answers I received shocked me in the best way possible.

The most pressing question I had was will FIT be offering the new abortion pill? Miller stated that FIT does not currently have the abortion pill, but only because they have little demand for it. They have an excellent relationship and referral system with Planned Parenthood, which has more resources and experience to help and therefore can help students to a greater extent.

However, in accordance with SUNY, if there was limited access to abortion services or a high demand for the pill itself then the new abortion pill could be introduced within the school. Because, SUNY released a statement announcing the abortion pill would be offered to every school in the State University System of NY if it was needed. This a reassuring answer, one that should make students feel more comfortable knowing that the school plans to put their students’ needs first.

Miller went on to highlight how FIT can help in times of need, for example, with STD checks. 65% of undergraduate college kids are sexually active according to Medical Center at the University of Georgia. 35% of these students said they have had multiple sexual partners.

This means that regular STDs checks are very important as STDs can lead to life altering illnesses. Miller mentions how the school does offer STD checks every weekday, Monday to Friday; these are billed to insurance (the school insurance does cover this).

However, in some instances being discrete is necessary. If a student does not want to have STD checks billed to their insurance for any reason, the Health Services can connect you with Project STAY, which is administered every Friday in the Health Services office during fall and spring semesters in partnership with FIT and Columbia University.

Project STAY (Services to Assist Youth) joined by the New YorkPresbyterian and the Harlem Health Promotion Center (HHPC) provide scared youth with the help and tests they need. For more information on Project STAY visit www.projectstay.nyc.

Aside from abortion options and STD tests, Health Services offer a large range of free services including free birth control (pills and condoms), free pregnancy tests, and free morning after pills which can be collected by any student. Having access to the morning after pill is reassuring, especially for the students who might not be able to afford it.

Miller reassured that the department is always open to expanding the range of services if students have ideas for extra services they think are required. The Health Services FIT offers are vast; from hormone replacement therapy to acupuncture, catering to a school as diverse as ours. While FIT does not yet offer the abortion pill, there is a vast range of resources to bring a sense of comfort to anxious students. Overall, I wanted to answer the question: would FIT offer the abortion pill and how do they help sexually active college students? I think the answers I received provided me and others with a sense of comfort and a place to turn in times of need.