To Father Engh and the Board of Trustees, 

We the students of Santa Clara University continue to strive for competence, conscience, and compassion to cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. In our efforts to pursue this vision we come to you with deep concerns regarding recent modifications to the health care coverage for faculty and staff. It has come to our attention that the health care policy will be changed in ways that prevent women from pursuing their fundamental rights of autonomy over their bodies and reproductive health. To deny coverage for abortion procedures is to deny faculty and their families of their reproductive rights. This shift in reproductive health care coverage is a way of denying full access. Shifting the economic burden to the individual woman is one drastic step toward limiting access, even if the procedure remains legal. This goes against the core values that inspired us to become a part of the Santa Clara community. The situation disappoints us, as students who have invested our time, energy, and money in building an institution of whichwe can be proud.

In addition to our concerns of the denial of comprehensive health care we are also deeply troubled by the manner in which this decision was reached. Santa Clara University claims to adhere to a collaborative model of shared governance but the decision making process was ignored. The decision to change health care coverage was unilateral; as administration, faculty, staff, and students were never asked to voice their opinions. We as students feel that the Board of Trustees and our President have failed us, as the process of shared governance was disregarded. Given the magnitude of the issue, this transgression is even more concerning.

These concerns lead us to question the future of the university. The repercussions of this decision are clear as negative publicity may discourage   potential professors and students from joining Santa Clara University. These losses to our community directly affect every student.

In an effort to address this controversial decision, which is not compatible with SCU’s vision, we as students would like the opportunity to have an open discussion with the President and the Trustees. We believe that this forum will allow for students to contribute to the conversation and, more specifically, address the impact this rupture has created among faculty and staff. Thank you for your consideration.