Orlando NOW President’s Response to UCF Future Editor

Dear Ms. Howell,

I am stunned that you allowed the article, “Emergency contraceptive available at UCF for $24: Decision to Sell Pill Prompts Students to Consider its Morality,” to run in this week’s UCF Future. This article contained information, presented as fact, which was not only misleading and inaccurate, but dangerous to the women of UCF.

Emergency Contraception is a form of hormonal birth control. It is a higher dose of normal contraceptive pills, and its use is opposed by Right to Life groups who oppose not only abortion, but also birth control. Had your journalist actually had the intention of exploring its morality and safety, she may have stumbled upon student groups such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Voices for Gen-X (VOX), who not only recognize EC as a backup form of birth control, but who advocate for its sales over-the-counter.

Emergency Contraception is safer than aspirin. It is so safe, that the American Pediatric Association has approved of its use for children of reproductive age with no restrictions. Emergency Contraception is sold over-the-counter in over thirty-eight countries.

This article pitted the interests of one religious student group against the UCF staff who care enough about the student population to offer Emergency Contraception to female students at a reduced price (Pharmacies sell the drug for close to $50). Emergency Contraception is safe, smart and effective. The young women who choose to use Emergency Contraception as an alternative to an unwanted pregnancy should be praised, not forced to carry a pregnancy to term for some type of moral punishment as alluded to by one student quoted in this article.

I encourage you to print a retraction to this article clarifying that the Right to Life group President who alleged that Emergency Contraception was an abortion had her facts wrong. You should consider quoting a doctor, or a more authoritative voice on reproductive health such as the President of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando. I would also encourage you to print several of the more accurate and thoughtful letters that you received from concerned students in the Letters to the Editor section in order to more accurately represent the thoughts of your student population, and to show the student population who has their facts straight.

Thank you for your time. We anxiously anticipate your response to this matter.

Sincerely,

Jenna Cawley
President, Orlando NOW
UCF Political Science Graduate Student

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.