Recently, a good friend of mine found herself in a difficult situation: It was a Saturday morning and she was in need of the morning-after pill known as Plan B. Unfortunately, after unsuccessfully contacting UHS and Planned Parenthood and listening to recorded messages explaining hours of operation, she realized her problem would have to wait until Monday when they would open again. The only other place the pill is available is at the Walgreens by the Capitol, which requires somewhat of a trek, $44.30 and a photo ID confirming that you are over 18. Sadly for my friend, that $44.30 simply did not fit into her budget. As college students, our classes consume the majority of our time, and we are notorious for not having money. This makes it increasingly difficult for young women on this campus to acquire the Plan B pill. On a campus where drinking seems to be an essential part of life, at least on the weekends, it would seem obvious that our student health center and Planned Parenthood should be happy to stay open to serve UW students in need of help. How many times would we have heard the story of a friend hooking up with someone they normally wouldn’t have, if alcohol had not been a factor? We all know that alcohol impairs our ability to make normal judgments and inhibitions are thrown to the wind. However, according to a study conducted by the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, drinking can cause an increased desire for sexual contact as well. People become careless with contraception, but even if condoms are used, alcohol can decrease the amount of lubrication in women, leading to condom breakage. Oftentimes alcohol compromises memory, and the two partners don’t remember if contraception was used or not. Whatever the reason, accidents happen. The Plan B pill is a solution to these problems. However, the price and availability, at least in Madison, should cause UW students some concern. The Plan B pill is a form of emergency contraception that should not be used on a regular basis for birth control. It is intended as a last resort in a dire, time-sensitive situation. The pill should also not be confused with normal birth control pills, which are safe for regular use and protection from pregnancy. In the limited time span when UHS and Planned Parenthood are open, the pill is available over the counter for women over the age of 18. Yet, the price to prevent unwanted pregnancy is high. Through UHS, the pill will cost $31.42 plus tax while Planned Parenthood offers the pill anywhere from no charge to $40 based on annual income. Most college students don’t have $40 to spend on anything other than food. They also don’t have to time to wait at the Planned Parenthood clinic for the free pill because of their class schedule. One UW student said of her experience with Planned Parenthood, "I was waiting for 30 minutes, but then I had to leave for class. By the time I was done for the day, it was closed." College courses demand the majority of students’ time. There is no time to work schedules around the limited hours of these organizations, especially UHS, which supposedly caters directly to the student body. The pill should be taken three days after unprotected sex, as its 89 percent success rate only applies to this short-time period, and the pill loses effectiveness thereafter. Because of the time factor, it is shocking that organizations like Planned Parenthood and UHS are closed during the weekend, when unprotected sex is most common. Unwanted pregnancy in college is a definite emergency situation that can be prevented if this pill is made more available. Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. advertises Plan B for "when things don’t go as planned." But what are college students to do when a hastily conceived and possibly dangerous "plan C" is the only other option? We need as much help as we can get to protect ourselves in college. So please, give us the support we need. Sara Biersteker ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in English.