Boston College's health service policies, which the University claims adhere to Catholic teachings, have left some students feeling that their interests and needs are not being adequately addressed. To explore these concerns, which some people believe fall within the realm of personal rights, several campus groups held a panel discussion Monday night.
"Your College, Your Health: A Discussion of University Policy and Students' Rights" was sponsored by the African and African diaspora studies program and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a self-proclaimed grassroots group that is unrecognized and unfunded by BC. The panel consisted of Katie Simpson, Northeast coordinator at Planned Parenthood; Dr. Aimee van Wagenen, professor of sociology; and Veronica Joseph, president of the GLBT/Q Leadership Council (GLC) and A&S '07. The discussion was moderated by Katherine Adams, A&S '07.
While the panel addressed many topics, it primarily focused on the lack of information and options they felt BC students have. As a Jesuit university that follows Catholic teachings, BC does not make contraceptives or emergency contraceptives available to students on campus, although it does provide for confidential counseling and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and free pregnancy tests. Van Wagenen said that this is not enough.
"What interests and really disturbs me about BC's [health] policy is the limited extent of their services," said van Wagenen. "University Health Services is a series of silences and prohibitions - the 'just say no's."
The panelists criticized BC's policy of only promoting abstinence as a means to prevent STIs and claimed that BC's health educational material was not adequate on this subject. They pointed to the fact that the health education page on BC's Web site states that engaging in a "risky sexual situation" may lead to an STI, yet it does not describe all of the specific situations that could be included in this category.
Although the panelists may have criticized BC's health education services, Dr. Thomas Nary, director of University Health Services, said BC does a good job of balancing its Catholic tradition and the needs of its students.
"I think that the educational materials here do address many of the behaviors people have, Catholic or otherwise," said Nary. "[Students] do have to understand though that this is a Jesuit institution and there are some limitations."
In addition to addressing specific BC health policy, the panelists also discussed what they felt were the deeper problems it allegedly stemmed from and the problems they said it created.
According to Joseph, such policies stem from a system that does not support women in general, and they have many negative results, including lack of support for students who become pregnant at BC.
Joseph described her experiences as a resident assistant and how she felt she would have been inadequately prepared to address issues regarding contraceptives, sex, and rape. While she said sex is a reality among college students, neither it nor its potential consequences are openly talked about.
"I go to a Jesuit college where apparently sex and pregnancies never happen," said Joseph. "In college, if you are pregnant you have to 'disappear.'"
The panelists criticized Health Services' treatment of pregnant women, and both Simpson and Adams said that it was doing women a disservice by not discussing with them the option of abortion. Adam also claimed that Health Services falsely informed and intentionally misled women regarding the risks of abortion.
Baker confirmed the fact that, in accordance with BC policy, Health Services is prohibited from referring pregnant students to places that conduct abortions, but denies that they even discuss such procedures, much less falsely inform women about them. She also explained that pregnant students do not have to "disappear," Baker said. "No one is ever encouraged to leave."
Baker said that there are many avenues of support available to help pregnant women, and off-campus housing will make arrangements for women and their babies to live.
"Obviously, you don't want newborn infants living in the Mods," said Baker.
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