One cold winter night last week, on the hard bathroom floor of a public dorm in Eau Claire, a student died giving birth to a baby girl no one knew she was carrying. Even though we will never know exactly what ran through the mind of 19-year-old Karen Hubbard, perhaps if she had known more about her circumstance and the many options available, her situation would have turned out very differently.
It is difficult to point fingers at any one person or institution for the events of Jan. 29 because pregnancy issues are personal and all women cope with them differently. Yet an important question still lingers: How can such a tragedy be prevented at UW-Madison?
Because UW-Madison is an institution that openly discusses health and women's issues, some have concluded that something like this could never happen here. For example, there are student organizations like Sex Out Loud, which educates students about issues of sexual health, and the Campus Women's Center, which offers support groups among other services.
Nonetheless, women on campus may be unaware of the medical and consultation services available, thanks to the $110 per semester each student pays in segregated fees. University Health Services and its subsidiaries offer many essential services to women free of charge. The Women's Clinic at UHS offers pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, counseling and referrals for those who are pregnant as well as routine exams to those who are not.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of females on campus depend on this branch of UHS every year. While it is difficult to criticize a service so valuable to this campus, the Women's Clinic could be improved in one important aspect'by making its services more widely known. It is true that students who use the facilities are undoubtedly appreciative of them, but if UHS put greater effort into informing students about how easily accessible (and free) its services are, more females would utilize them.
Though UHS may begin to make itself known as early as SOAR, students too frequently forget about this facility and its many beneficial options. The first step to ensuring safe and healthy choices is awareness'not only about the problem, but about the array of possible solutions.
UHS has done an excellent job advertising its anti-smoking campaign and free flu shots; hopefully it can do the same for its Women's Clinic.
Students must also offer emotional support to friends faced with a possible pregnancy, and the campus community should freely exchange knowledge of resources such as UHS and Planned Parenthood. Taking the first step to seek professional help requires great courage'something a true friend can help instill in a frightened woman.
We cannot possibly know exactly what circumstances led to the death of Karen Hubbard and her newborn child. However, UW-Madison and students on campus can take an active role in minimizing the possibility that such a tragedy could happen here.
