Recently a group of students from the Washington College of Law petitioned AU for more comprehensive birth control coverage. This petition, which lobbies for more birth control options and better coverage, should be taken seriously by the University.
The Eagle is very happy to see that the Student Health Center added two new brands of oral contraceptives last year, bringing the total to five and giving all students additional, cheaper brands to choose from. However, there are far more than five options on the market, and every woman is different. The more options AU has to offer, the more female students will be comfortable and safe using AU's birth control coverage. Offering different types of plans on the University insurance form could be beneficial to students, although The Eagle worries that students might not feel such options would be securely confidential, especially if the student's parents are paying for and controlling the student's insurance. Currently, AU's student insurance plan covers some inexpensive options of birth control. Of course it would be great if it were free, but students should not angrily protest AU if it is not free. After all, some pharmaceutical companies often don't offer discounts to universities, making it hard for AU to lower its price any further.
Birth control is a good thing, and it certainly fits in well with AU's goals. Part of President Benjamin Ladner's 15 Point Plan is to make the campus healthier, and increasing birth control options and coverage is a smart and sensible way to accomplish this. Increasing birth control coverage and options will decrease the chances of students becoming pregnant, which would cause a great deal of consternation and trouble - financial, academic, etc. - that students don't need and often can't afford. Birth control is a real and major issue on college campuses, and AU is no exception. The Eagle hopes, therefore, that this petition from the WCL students will be honored with careful thought and deliberation, and that AU will continue to work to improve its birth control options.
