Hieronymous A coed holds a "Compack",
pill dispenser.
the most popular
"Chances are if I wasn't on the pill, I'd screw
anyway--but there would be a lot of anxiety," volunteers a freshman SJS coed.
Birth control pills have been a controversial topic
whenever it has been suggested that the SJS Health
Center distribute them to unmarried coeds who request the pills.
Many SJS coeds are on the pill however. Planned
Parenthood, a private agency located at 28 N. 16th
street dispenses pills to women over 21 and girls
who are engaged.
One girl under 21 was told, "Come back next
week when you' re engaged."
She insisted she was not going to become engaged
before the following week.
"Come back next week when you're engaged,"
she was told again firmly. She got the hint and returned the following week displaying a borrowed
ring and obtained birth control pills with no problem.
Girls who phone the organization receive the pills
in about a month. During that time they are told the
methods of preventing conception (foam, rubbers,
rhythm method, etc.) and the advantage and drawbacks
of each. Should they decide on the pill, they are then
billed according to their income.
A girl in financial straits was charged a total of
$4.20 for the examination and a three month supply
of pills.
Planned Parenthood will not issue pills to diabetics or girls with any kind of allergy.
Not so eager to come to the aid of SJS coeds, the
college Health Center does not issue the pill under
any circumstances.
"This would be an elective thing" stated Dr.
Thomas Gray, Health Center director. He added that
doctors are instructed to answer any requests by suggesting that the girl visit her personal physician.
Dr. Gray noted that the great bulk of college health
centers across the nation do not distribute the pill or
any information about it.
" It is beyond the scope of what is generally considered college health service."
Gray also said that he didn't believe any private
physician would lightly undertake distribution of the
pill.
However, some local physicians may have proven
him wrong. Pills are issued to coeds for reasons
ranging from menstrual cramps to complexion
problems.
" I told the doctor I had cramps just as an excuse
to get the pills," states a 19-year old freshman
coed, "but if he hadn't given them to me, I would
have gone to Planned Parenthood."
Some girls on the pill for these reasons often distribute them freely to their friends. In this way a
doctor may be supplying two or three extra girls
without realizing it.
"I think that doctors should have no qualms about
giving them to anybody—should ask no questions and
(continued page seven)
