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College Topics

G W Pill Poll Result

By Jay Morse

Recent issues of area school
papers have had interesting articles
concerning uses of the birth-control
pill and its availability at
the schools.

At George Washington University
in Washington, D.C. a poll
concerning uses of the pill by female
students in three dorms
elicited 118 responses.

Of those responding, 29 per
cent admitted taking the pill for
one reason or another. In addition,
70 per cent were favorable in their
opinions on the pill, whether they
took it themselves or not.

General opinion about the pills
ranged from cautious and skeptical
to enthusiastic. Wrote one
sophomore, "a significant step toward
population control—yes, an
aid to prevent the personal tragedy
of ruined lives—yes, but a ticket to
sleep around—no."

"Fantastic," wrote a freshman
using the pills, but more cautious
was the attitude of a sophomore,
non-user, who stated, "If a girl
is involved in premarital sex, they
are better than involving a third
life—an illegitimate child."

Interesting too was the response
to the question "If you do take
birth control pills, do your parents
know?"

All the freshmen, 80 per cent
of the sophomores, 50 per cent
of the juniors, and 33 per cent
of the seniors taking the pill
answered yes.

When asked it their sexual behavior
had changed since taking
the pill, they felt inclined to comment
only if it had.

Noted one girl, "I'm still sleeping
with my fianc?, I just do it
more often," and another wrote
"I've gotten older and more involved."

A high percentage of the girls
polled felt that the health service
should extend its present role in
distribution of information and
possibly of pills.

Current policy of the school
Health Clinic does not include
such distribution, but if for medical
reasons, a single girl feels that
she needs the pill, she is referred
to a gynecologist by the school.

At the University of Maryland,
one professor of health summed
up that school's policy on pill
as "birth control is not a function
of the University."

Health Service Director Lester
Dyke recently noted that pills
would be given only in, a very
few emergency cases involving married
students and the faculty.

Ordinarily, students seeking oral
contraceptives are directed to local
physicians or the Planned Parenthood
Clinic.

Professor Herbert L. Jones noted
that this was the general policy
followed by other colleges and universities
around the nation.

Commenting on these conditions
in the Maryland paper the
"Diamondback," one female
writer evaluated the policy in these
words: "The university is a dry-campus
pill-wise."