Chains Effective for Georgetown Protesters
Students angry over having to leave campus to purchase birth control
Monday, Mar 29, 2010 | Updated 4:54 PM EDT
Georgetown students chain themselves to statue to force school officials to address their sex health issues.
Georgetown University officials say they are now willing to talk about sex health issues after a dozen student protesters got their attention during a rally Saturday.
At least three of those students spent eight hours chained to a statue of the school's founder after learning school officials would not sit down and hear their complaints. The protesters also covered their mouths with duct tape to symbolize what they say is censorship by Georgetown University.
The students are part of a group called Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice. They are upset having to leave campus to purchase condoms and other birth control. The students and staff also want the school’s health plan to cover birth control and other reproductive choices.
Other student protesters shouted their message through megaphones stating, "We are unofficial because Georgetown refuses to take care of the sexual health of its students." Some students held banners. One read, “My body, my campus.”
Around 8:00 p.m., a university official sent letters stating they would hold a meeting with the protestors on Tuesday.
Two months ago, Plan A sent a letter to Georgetown University administrators asking for a meeting so they could address their complaints.
Since the group did not get the response they wanted, they decided to hold a public protest.
While their fight is far from over, Plan A members are thrilled at the progress of their push.
“It showed we are ready to stop at nothing to get justice”, said student Julia Shindel.
A Jesuit priest founded Georgetown University in 1789. School officials describe it as “rooted in the Catholic faith” while being “invigorated by religious and cultural pluralism”.
Posted Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 8:40 PM EDT
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