The student government at the University of California-Berkeley last week passed a resolution calling for the implementation of an abortion clinic on campus.
Senate Resolution 69 urges the campus’s University Health Services to “implement medical abortion services” at the school’s health center.
“The bill states that UC Berkeley students should have access to legal and safe medical abortions,” according to student newspaper the Daily Californian.
Students said the lack of an abortion facility on campus constitutes a health risk to those who do not have time to travel to an off-campus location.
“When medication abortion is not available at UHS, students who are seeking an abortion face financial, time, and travel constraint burdens that create negative impacts on academic performance and mental health,” the bill reads. “UHS is a health center dedicated to meeting the health needs of students in order for students to be able to upkeep their academic well-being.”
“Abortion is a common health-care service and access to abortion is necessary and relevant in student life,” it continues.
The bill’s primary sponsor said the health center “has the ability and resources to provide these services.”
The bill also notes that abortion services were available on campus in the 1980s.
“UC Berkeley’s University Health Services fully supports women’s access to the full spectrum of contraception, emergency contraception, abortion and other pregnancy alternatives,” said Roqua Montez, director of communications and media relations. “Fortunately, the Berkeley campus is surrounded by a high-quality, well-established network of health providers who are expert in this area.”
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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