Category: Opinion

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Positive changes have been made to contraceptive access across American universities, but the fight for affordable emergency contraception at UIC has just begun.

At UIC, the mandatory Student Health Fee covers contraceptives, but only hormonal contraceptive pills and condoms are included. Emergency contraception (EC), which you may know as Plan B or the morning-after pill, remains 35 to 45 dollars at the University Village pharmacy. That’s not to mention the time and travel necessary to pick it up – the pharmacy is 0.6 miles from Student Center East, and a mile from ARC. According to the UIC Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement, an estimated 80% of UIC’s undergraduate population are commuters, and the distance of the pharmacy acts as a barrier to students hoping to access EC.

But what is emergency contraception, and why do we need it to be easily accessible on campus?

EC is a form of contraception (i.e. birth control, pregnancy prevention) that includes Progestin-only pills, Ulipristal acetate pills, combination Progestin and Ulipristal acetate pills, as well as the copper IUD. Ulipristal acetate pills, also known as Ella, and combination pills must be prescribed by a physician while the copper IUD must be inserted in a doctor’s office. All these options require a doctor’s appointment which present an added difficulty. The fact that all forms of EC must be taken/inserted as spoon as possible within five days after unprotected sex stresses the importance of immediate accessiblity .

Progestin-only pills are the only EC option available over the counter (OTC), so the drug can legally be sold in vending machines in the state of Illinois. It can be taken up to five days after any unprotected sex; this includes if condoms weren’t used, a condom breaks, or assault has taken place. It should be taken as soon as possible, as it works by delaying or preventing ovulation in order to prevent pregnancy. EC is in no way an abortion pill, as abortion pills terminate existing pregnancies while EC instead is effective before a pregnancy is even established . It is also safer than other OTC drugs such as Tylenol.

Because EC is extremely time-sensitive, having it be accessible in terms of both distance and time is critical. Placing vending machines in central locations on campus such as Student Center East (SCE) and Student Center West (SCW), with long open hours daily, would accomplish this – especially when compared to the University Village pharmacy, which is only open 9-5. Currently, when the pharmacy is closed, students are forced to alternate pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens, which they may not be comfortable traveling to alone, especially at night. Pharmacies can also be intimidating, as a person purchasing EC from one might have to interact with multiple employees or be asked to show an ID. Vending machines stocked with EC allow for more privacy when buying. Machines could be placed in low-traffic areas, such as the downstairs inner circle in SCE, to ensure this.

EC is also a critical aid in supporting students who have experienced sexual assault. Sexual assault is unfortunately common on college campuses, with rates estimated up to 26.4% for female undergraduate students according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Thus, having emergency contraception in addition to planned contraception is vital to the mental, emotional and physical health of students able to become pregnant.

Schools such as Boston University and Purdue University have already placed vending machines with EC on their campuses. Vending EC on college campuses is not only legal, but it is also included in Illinois House Bill 4247, introduced in December 2021, which would mandate all colleges provide an EC vending machine on campus, according to TV station KHQA.

At Boston University, the cost of generic Plan B through the vending machine is just $7.25, and at Purdue University it’s $12. Costs could be similarly low at UIC should the Village Pharmacy purchase generic EC in wholesale, which would be resold to vending, and then sold to students. According to Kelly Cleland, Executive Director of the American Society for Emergency Contraception, everyone in the process – the pharmacy and the vending contract holder – would profit, while students would still be accessing EC at a reasonable price. However, the UIC administration favors utilizing CVS vending machines if possible, which would undeniably keep the cost at market price and less accessible financially.

Dear UIC community,

You may not know me, or maybe you do. My name is Andrea and I’m a member of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) community in a few ways.