As students, alumni, affiliates, and concerned citizens of New York, we are calling on the New York State Legislature to require university health centers provide medication abortion on campus.

We demand the New York State Legislature pass Bill A3322/S9444 that requires the provision of abortion pills on campus in all SUNYs and CUNYs. 

We are also calling on private universities, like Columbia, NYU, and Barnard, who are not affected by the above bills, to provide abortion pills on campus as well. 

Having on-campus access to abortion reduces the burden on New York clinics experiencing immense demand and pressure, makes the costs more transparent, insurance coverage easier, and reduces barriers to accessing basic healthcare.

A quick explanation of why this policy is vital and extremely urgent: 

1) As New York becomes a destination state for abortion access post-Roe, our clinics will experience immense demand from patients from out of state and increased protests from anti-abortion groups. We can reduce wait times and funding pressure for clinics by making on-campus abortion pills available to students.

2) On-campus provision helps make insurance coverage easier and reduces travel time and informational barriers. According to the most recent data available from the Guttmacher Institute, 39% of counties in New York State are without a known clinic.

3) We cannot let extremists exceptionalize and politicize abortion care. Medication abortion is common, extremely safe, and completely in line with the other services offered in primary care settings.  It is 98% effective and considered medically safer than Tylenol. Having an abortion is associated with a lower risk than continuing a pregnancy and giving birth.

This is not a fringe idea. California requires public universities to provide medication abortion. Massachusetts recently passed a bill mandating the same for its universities. 

More than 54% of abortions in the United States are done with abortion pills. Patients take two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end their pregnancy until 12 weeks.

In NY state, Nurse-Practitioners, Physician-Assistants, and Nurse-Midwives can provide medication abortion in-clinic, meaning that all primary care medical professionals would be able to provide medication abortion in a clinical setting. 

As we enter the post-Roe era of unrestrained attacks on abortion rights, we must solidify and fully exercise our reproductive autonomy. Now is the moment we start demanding more and pushing back against the politicization of basic healthcare in all our spaces. 

Sign this petition and tell New York universities to stop limiting reproductive freedom. 

FAQ: 

Is the abortion pill the same as 'Plan B'? 

Nope! Plan B, or emergency contraception (as it's generically known), prevents pregnancy whereas the abortion pill ends an existing pregnancy. Access to both is part of basic reproductive healthcare.

What is the abortion pill?

The 'abortion pill' is actually a protocol consisting of two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol. Patients take 1 mifepristone and, 24-48 hours later, 4 misoprostol, to end their pregnancy up until 12 weeks (as approved by the WHO). This is the most effective method of abortion with pills (95-98% of abortions are successful). It has the fewest side effects. 

What do campus clinics need to do to provide the abortion pill? Would this be a big cost to universities?

As medication abortion is considered medically safer than most services currently provided by campus clinics, there are no extra liabilities for universities. Further, in NY, no specialized equipment (e.g. ultrasound machines, etc) is required prior to accessing an abortion. The provider must be able to assess pregnancy duration, diagnose ectopic pregnancy, and refer for surgical intervention if needed. Facility requirements include a private exam room, speculum, and adequate lighting, and access to a laboratory for testing (or referral). The vast majority of campus clinics already have exam rooms, lab access, surgical referrals, and practitioners able to perform medication abortions. 

In most cases, campus clinics would just have to fill out an order form (GenBioPro or Danco) to get mifepristone, one of the medication abortion pills, on campus. The order form is basic and straightforward. In NY state, Nurse-Practitioners, Physician-Assistants, and Nurse-Midwives can provide medication abortion in-clinic, meaning that all primary care medical professionals would be able to provide medication abortion in a clinical setting. 

 

Why don’t you want campus clinics to provide birthing/pregnancy services?

Ideally, they totally would! We’d also include daycare! Your reproductive choices should not be a burden or barrier to your eductaion! The problem is that abortion clinics are the ones currently experiencing demand from out-of-state patients, so we’re focusing on the most pressing problem.  

 

Note: This petition was originally specific to Columbia, but our coalition has expanded to students from schools across New York State and City, including NYU, CUNYs, and SUNYs.