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Sara Espinal ’11

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Stephanie Farnham Student Contributor, University of New Hampshire
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Sara Espinal is a senior here at UNH.  Before she graduates in May, we got the opportunity to speak with her about her involvement with women’s reproductive rights.  Most of this information was very new to us so make sure you read it! 

Can you tell HC UNH a little about your internship for Naral Pro-Choice New Hampshire?  What kind of work do you do there?
Naral Pro-Choice New Hampshire is a grassroots organization dedicated to reproductive rights in. Naral has been working on protecting choice since 1977. The main focus of my internship has been collecting information on the availability of emergency contraception on college campuses around NH. I have found that most colleges/universities offer emergency contraception to their students. Those that did not offer emergency contraception would refer their students to local pharmacies, or health clinics. There is always room for improvement, I am hoping my research brings awareness to this very serious issue and the availability of emergency contraception increases through out NH’s colleges/universities. I will be publishing the results within the next week or so. 

Does UNH Health Services offer emergency contraceptives? Who can buy them?
Yes, UNH health services does carry emergency contraceptives. Every UNH student has the availability to purchase EC regardless if they are male or female. It’s great that UNH allows male students to purchase EC, they can purchase it for their partner regardless if they are a UNH student or not. Emergency contraception is also available on the weekends 12pm-4pm at UNH health services.

What is a good on campus resource for women?
The women’s health and the office of health education and promotion are great resources on campus for women.  The staff is very friendly and helpful. 
 

  
(You can get cool, and useful, condoms like these at health services!) 

Can you tell us about the Birth Control Matters campaign?
The Birth Control Matters Campaign is a national campaign through Planned Parenthood  focused on making birth control more affordable and accessible to women. The campaign is pushing to make birth control fall under preventative medicine under the new health care reform which would minimize co-pay. There is current activism on campus for this campaign, there has been tabling at the MUB that has been asking students to sign the petition in order to pass birth control as  preventative medicine. 

To learn more about the Birth Control Matters Campaign visit  www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/bc-matters/

How do college student’s get involved with women’s reproductive rights?
Currently there is not a student group that focuses on reproductive rights. I am hoping to start a group that focuses on the importance of choice. But, if students are interested in getting involved they can contact Naral Pro-Choice NH  http://www.prochoicenewhampshire.org/ I will be graduating in May and my internship will be available for next year. It has been a very empowering and eye opening experience and I would highly recommend it. 

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Stephanie Farnham
New Jersey native, Stephanie, is a junior in the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. She is majoring in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Marketing and International Business & Economics. She loves the city and lived there last summer while interning for Ann Taylor. Stephanie loves sushi and Starbucks lattes. She is also a proud member of Alpha Phi and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Panhellenic Council.