Students at George Washington University can now access contraception pills through a vending machine located inside the school’s student center.
Students can purchase Plan B, a well-known brand name for an emergency contraceptive pill, from the vending machine located on the ground floor of the University Student Center, along with other items such as tampons, Tylenol, and Advil. Student government leaders pushed for the project shortly after the reversal of Roe v. Wade last summer after some students voiced concerns about a lack of access to reproductive healthcare.
Senior Aiza Saeed and sophomore Neharika Rao have worked with school administration to bring the “morning-after” pill to a vending machine located in the basement of the school’s student center, according to The Washington Post. There, the pills are kept at the necessary temperature and are available to students in a discreet location.
“You could get Doritos and Plan B at the same time,” Saeed said.
The morning-after pill is not an abortion. It is an emergency contraceptive that helps prevent pregnancies from occurring, so a woman does not need to seek the services of a medical professional for an abortion at a later date if they do become pregnant following unprotected sex.
The contraceptive pills are supplied through the vending machine company, and neither the school nor students are purchasing the products, according to the school.
Students can purchase the Plan B medication for only $30, offering a discount compared to some pharmacies that sell the contraceptive for up to $50.
The vending machine allows George Washington University to join a growing number of U.S. colleges that offer contraceptive pills to students, including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and others.
Of course, the machine was met with some criticism from people who were concerned at the ease with which young adults could access the pills.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: AWM, DailyMail, The Washington Post
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