A 19-year-old college freshman was found dead with her newborn baby in a dorm bathroom stall. No one was even aware that she was pregnant, let alone near full term.
The issues of pregnancy raise important concerns for universities and social organizations as well as the individuals involved. The response to these concerns will determine whether tragedies like that of the college student at UW-Eau Claire are repeated, with the key to this response being information.
\This should be a wake-up call to us all,"" said Lisa Boyce, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Wisconsin.
""We urge people not to be shy about discussing these important matters because it is so important to protect themselves: It is basic health care,"" she said.
Dr. Scott Spear, director of clinical services at University Health Services, said UW-Madison offers a healthy forum for such issues because of its history of being a progressive public university.
Resources ranging from UHS to student organizations like Sex Out Loud and the Campus Women's Center exist to provide information, support and services on pregnancy issues.
""We try to address by providing family planning services and by talking about sexuality as a healthy and normal part of young people's lives in this environment, and hopefully that has some effect on helping people to recognize that they are sexual beings, and if they have an unplanned pregnancy they can come to us,"" Spear said.
UHS offers services ranging from confidential pregnancy tests to emergency contraception and information on prevention. Having resources, however, is not always enough.
""There is only so much that can be done in terms of having services available,"" Spear said.
Boyce said families and schools often create notions of the acceptability of discussing pregnancy issues.
""It becomes a taboo subject, and people as a result are afraid to reach out and ask for information ... and ask for help when they get into trouble,"" Boyce said.
Society, as well, can impact willingness to seek help, Spear said.
""A lot of it has to do with the shaming of unplanned pregnancies in our society and probably the messages that our society gives young people about being sexually active,"" Spear said.
Because background can play such an important role seeking information, addressing background differences in the targeting of information is necessary.
""You come here at 17 or 18 years old, you should have an understanding of your body. Depending on your family or where you are from, you may not know these things,"" said Hannah Baker-Siroty, a Campus Women's Center volunteer.
The way to overcome these problems is for organizations and the university to work together. Student organizations fill the gap between the university and the students to deal with these issues.
""I think student organizations ... provide opportunity and information about the resources and make it click a little more for students around campus,"" said Kara Chitwood, project coordinator for Sex Out Loud.
But in terms of coordinating efforts, there still seems to be a long way to go.
""We [student organizations] work together, and try to work together, but we don't do it very efficiently; we could do better,"" Chitwood said."" There is a little bit [of cooperation]. I think it is growing.""
The Eau Claire case puts the urgency of these efforts into the forefront.
""This should not have happened. It is a sad example of a lot of things coming together. It is an example of a very big failure in a lot of ways,"" Baker-Siroty said. ""It is preventable, and to not recognize this is another failure.\
