A number of U.S. colleges responded to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade, vacating a constitutional right to an abortion, by directing students to school counseling services.
The court’s Friday ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overruled the precedents set in Roe and the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which had upheld a right to an abortion under the Constitution. The Friday decision means that the issue returns to state legislatures.
In the aftermath of the ruling, numerous colleges and universities issued statements, with some encouraging students to seek out counseling and psychiatric services to “cope” with the ruling.
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Santa Monica College: Offering ‘mental wellness resources’
Santa Monica College, a community college in California, issued a statement saying it “affirms our support for the basic human right that SCOTUS has now called into question with this decision” and offered to direct students and staff to “mental wellness resources that can help you cope with current events.” The statement included contact information for Planned Parenthood.
“While this decision is not expected to impact reproductive rights in California, it will significantly impact basic rights for many women across the nation — with women from low-income communities and women of color disproportionately impacted — and give nearly half of the states the ability to end access to legal abortions,” college President Kathryn Jeffery said in a statement.
“We know many in our community are deeply concerned by today’s news and this reversal of a woman’s basic right to choose; many are just beginning to process the immeasurable impact and will continue to do so in the days to come. As U.S. President Joe Biden stated, ‘… it is a sad day for the Court and for our country.’”
The California state government has enacted numerous laws ensuring the availability and legality of abortion, meaning that Friday’s ruling has little bearing on the availability of the procedure in the state.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: ‘Seek support’
In response to the ruling, University of Wisconsin-Madison interim Chancellor John Karl Scholz encouraged members of the university community to “seek support and community in ways that feel right to you” and added that “campus resources are also available to anyone seeking assistance in processing change and uncertainty.”
Wisconsin is one of several states where a pre-Roe law criminalizing abortion was never repealed and can now be enforced. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), who is facing reelection, has said the law will not be enforced.
“While UW–Madison will continue to meet all applicable legal requirements, we are facing a period of uncertainty as the new legal status for abortion access in Wisconsin is interpreted and challenged,” Scholz said. “We know this uncertainty may affect some members of our community more than others.”
Vanderbilt University: ‘A lot to process’
Located in Tennessee, a state with a so-called “trigger” law that will ban abortion 30 days after the reversal of Roe, Vanderbilt University likewise issued a statement discussing the implications of the ruling.
“At Vanderbilt we remain steadfast in our commitment to support women’s health and the safety and well-being of our community and to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all members of our community. As a leading research university, it is also our responsibility to confront head-on the most pressing challenges of our time and provide a forum for exploration and debate,” university Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said in a statement.
Diermeier said the university recognized that “this decision and its implications are a lot to process and will continue to be the subject of much discussion among members of the Vanderbilt community” and provided links to the university counseling center and other mental health resources.
“The university has created a task force that will focus on the impact of a statewide abortion ban and plan to address impacts to clinical care, educational instruction, student health and other areas while also helping to drive academic discussion and explore strategies and policy around this topic,” Diermeier said. “The university is coordinating closely with leadership at the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and our partners at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as part of this effort. Based on the findings of the task force, we will provide updates on the effects of the decision on the university and measures to address those impacts.”
Kenyon College: ‘Emergency contraception’ still available
Sean Decatur, the president of the Ohio-based Kenyon College, called the court’s decision in Dobbs “jarring” and said the college “continues to support the right of individuals to make their own medical decisions.”
Following the ruling, abortions in Ohio are now illegal after the first fetal heartbeat is detected, which occurs around six weeks of development, a fact that Decatur noted in his statement.
“Kenyon is still assessing what this ruling and subsequent changes to Ohio law will mean for our students and employees, and we will issue further updates prior to the beginning of the fall semester. In the meantime, please consult with your medical provider about questions relating to pregnancy, reproductive health, access to medical care, and mental health services,” Decatur said. “Students may reach out to staff at the Cox Health and Counseling Center, where access to contraception, including emergency contraception, continues as before. The College chaplains and the Employee Assistance Program also are available to assist individuals in processing these developments.”
University of California: ‘Gravely concerned’
While the court’s ruling will have little effect on the availability of abortion in California, Michael Drake, the president of the University of California system, issued a statement saying he was “gravely concerned” about the ruling and its implications, calling it “a sobering moment.”
“Despite this decision by the Court, we will continue to provide the full range of health care options possible in California, including reproductive health services, and to steadfastly advocate for the needs of our patients, students, staff, and the communities we serve,” Drake said. “We will also continue to offer comprehensive education and training to the next generation of health care providers, and to conduct life-saving research to the fullest extent possible.”
Drake’s statement was echoed by the leadership of the many schools in the UC system, including Gary May, the chancellor of UC-Davis, who told the university community, “Your reproductive options in the state of California will remain the same,” while directing students and staff to the institution’s available counseling and mental health services.
University of Utah: Ruling ‘disproportionately’ affects ‘marginalized members of our community’
Located in another state with a “trigger law” banning abortion after the reversal of Roe, the University of Utah issued a statement recognizing that “terminating a pregnancy is a complex issue with myriad considerations” while promising to adhere to state law.
“We acknowledge there are strong opinions on this issue. Ultimately, the legal and moral issues surrounding this debate must be resolved by the courts and the voters,” the university said.
“The University of Utah supports all those impacted by this change in federal and state health care laws,” the university continued. “It will affect our U of U Health colleagues in practical and profound ways. Also, it is likely to disproportionately affect many marginalized members of our community — women, low-income, queer and trans individuals, immigrants, those with disabilities and BIPOC individuals. The Center for Student Wellness, Women’s Resource Center and University Counseling Center all provide support and resources for members of our campus community managing the impact of this decision.”
University of Notre Dame: ‘Committed to the sanctity of all human life’
While the reaction from most secular private and public institutions to the ruling expressed hostility or regret, the Rev. John Jenkins, the president of the University of Notre Dame and the alma mater of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, said the Catholic university was “committed to the sanctity of all human life” and that he had “for many years joined with others in advocating for the protection of unborn life.”
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“We acknowledge the divisions among people of good will on the question of abortion, and the controversy that has endured in our nation for the past 50 years,” Jenkins said. “I hope that today’s Supreme Court decision, which returns the question of abortion to voters and their elected representatives, will provide an occasion for sober deliberation and respectful dialogue.”
