OVER ONE THOUSAND GEORGETOWN STUDENTS SIGN IN PROTEST OF BAN ON CONDOMS, LETTER SENT TO ADMINISTRATORS DEMANDING A MORE RESPONSIBLE SEXUAL HEALTH POLICY

On Friday, March 21st, H*yas for Choice sent Georgetown University administrators a letter urging them to abandon Georgetowns outdated policies on sexual and reproductive health and replace them with modern, progressive policies. Specifically the letter calls for the university to begin providing access to contraceptive devices such as condoms and birth control pills. Accompanying the letter was a petition containing 1,267 signatures from members of the Georgetown community calling for the university to provide access to contraceptive devices on campus.

WASHINGTON – On Friday, March 21st, H*yas for Choice sent Georgetown University administrators a letter urging them to abandon Georgetowns outdated policies on sexual and reproductive health and replace them with modern, progressive policies. Specifically the letter calls for the university to begin providing access to contraceptive devices such as condoms and birth control pills. Accompanying the letter was a petition containing 1,267 signatures from members of the Georgetown community calling for the university to provide access to contraceptive devices on campus.

The petition that was sent to administrators reads as follows: "We, the students, feel that Georgetown University is responsible for safeguarding the health of its students. Thus, we feel that the University should supply the Georgetown community with free contraceptive devices. In addition, we feel that Georgetown University should allow on-campus vendors to sell contraceptive devices."

At the beginning of the fall semester, Georgetown administrators increased their suppression of students sexual and reproductive rights when they decreed that the distribution of condoms on the doors of residence halls by H*yas for Choice members was offensive. This act further limited the availability of contraceptive devices for students who already cannot receive condoms from the Student Primary Care Clinic or buy condoms from nearby independent merchants because of restrictions in their property leases. The current policies on students sexual and reproductive rights limit the intellectual and moral diversity of the community by inhibiting individuals from safely choosing to engage in consensual sexual intercourse. This type of policy is inconsistent with a university that promotes a diverse student body.

H*yas for Choice is a pro-choice student organization at Georgetown University. H*yas for Choice is a chapter of Choice USA and is not sponsored by Georgetown University. We work to advocate reproductive rights both on and off campus. Our primary activity is to provide condoms to campus residents. Free condoms are available from our table in Red Square in the center of campus on Thursdays. Membership is open to everyone.

TEXT OF LETTER FOLLOWS:

March 21, 2003

John J. "Jack" DeGioia, Ph.D., President
Office of the President
204 Healy Hall, Box 571789
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057

Dear President DeGioia:

Attached you will find a petition that has been signed by 1,267 members of the Georgetown community. The petition reads, We, the students, feel that Georgetown University is responsible for safeguarding the health of its students. Thus, we feel that the University should supply the Georgetown community with free contraceptive devices. In addition, we feel that Georgetown University should allow on-campus vendors to sell contraceptive devices."

Ideologically, Georgetown University is committed to Jesuit principles and intellectual and moral diversity. These ideals convince students with varying belief systems to come to Georgetown University. Many, if not most, of Georgetown students believe that sexual intercourse between consenting adults is not morally wrong, and, in fact, can be powerful and beautiful. In addition, many, if not most of Georgetown students believe that, during sexual intercourse, contraceptive devices should be employed in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

As a University dedicated to intellectual and moral diversity, Georgetown has the responsibility to meet the needs of these students. If Georgetown allowed students to be Jewish or Muslim, but refused to provide these students with the resources required to fully practice their religion, this would be called a sad commitment to religious diversity indeed. Likewise, by allowing students to make their own decisions about sexual intercourse (by not mandating celibacy), but by not providing the resources required to make and carry out these decisions safely and effectively, Georgetown is failing in its commitment to intellectual and moral diversity.

Georgetown is the community that we turn to, for food, for shelter, for intellectual stimulation, and for health care. By failing to provide contraceptive devices, including condoms and birth control, Georgetown University is failing as a community.

Listen to our voices. We are the future of Georgetown University. If you expect us to commit ourselves and our resources to Georgetown, you must take our legitimate concerns into account. Do not allow Georgetown to remain a bastion of outmoded ideas. Instead, allow Georgetown to become a beacon of progress, by promoting reproductive and sexual health. Please contact me, so that the H*yas for Choice Board can meet with you to discuss these ideas further. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

H*yas for Choice Board