Did you know that students who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy can get help from the Klotz Student Health Center in a variety of ways, from counseling to medication abortions — an offering now required by California law at public universities.
“Sex is going to happen,” said Shira Brown, lecturer in Gender and Women’s Studies and director of CSUN’s Women’s Research and Resource Center. “One of the things that can get in the way of somebody’s goal of graduating would be an unwanted pregnancy. Medication abortions are a resource that help students ultimately reach their goal. We can either provide individuals with the information they need to make choices, or we can deal with the consequences of not having all the information.”
Senate Bill 24 (SB 24), which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019, formally went into effect last year. The new law requires student health centers at public universities (including all CSU campuses) to offer students abortion by medication. The technique usually involves taking two pills that are prescribed early in pregnancy, within the first 10-11 weeks.
CSUN’s Klotz Center offers a variety of reproductive health services to students, including STI screening, pap smears, emergency contraceptive pills, birth control method consultations and pregnancy option counseling. The staff also offer gender-affirming care and PrEP, an HIV-prevention medication.
Academic success is highly correlated to the physical and mental well-being of students, said a Klotz Health Center nurse practitioner, who wished to remain anonymous.
“Our services help support the reproductive needs of students in a supportive, safe, affordable and confidential environment, in such a manner that students are able to make autonomous decisions about their reproductive health,” they said.
Students can call or visit the Klotz Student Health Center to set up an appointment. All visits are confidential.
