Under pressure from its Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter, Wesleyan University will now pay for students to get abortions and Plan B contraceptives, the school announced last week.
The private liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut, committed to covering all costs, including transportation, no matter the student's insurance status. The decision came after the school's Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter urged the administration to "ensure all students are able to overcome financial burdens to and lack of transportation for abortion procedures," submitting a petition with over 700 signatures. The blue state of Connecticut has hardly any protections for the unborn, allowing abortions up to 24 weeks.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer, blue-state institutions have pushed for easier access to abortion. California requires by law that all University of California and California State University campuses provide abortion pills in their health centers. The University of Massachusetts Amherst last year began providing abortion pills on campus. More students are reporting that access to abortion has become a factor in their college decision-making process, according to the Washington Examiner.
"At a time when reproductive freedom is being threatened around the country, Wesleyan is dedicated to providing students with support for free emergency contraception or for the decision to terminate a pregnancy," the university said in a statement.