The Dobbs Decision’s Impact on College Students
MCI Associate Director Dana Humphrey speaks with Gretchen Ely, PhD, MSW, a professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s College of Social Work whose research focuses on access to reproductive healthcare. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobb’s Decision which overturned Roe V. Wade and ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion in the U.S., the landscape of reproductive healthcare has changed dramatically. Dr. Ely discusses the impact the decision is having on college students and concerns that she and other experts have about increased barriers to abortion care.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
An opinion piece for The New York Times features stories of troubled teens whose parents or guardians turned to mental health facilities or programs for help but may have exacerbated their problems. According to the participants, this mental health “industry,” used assault, unnecessary sedation, and solitary confinement in treating their participants. Unethical treatment may be under-investigated in the industry, and patients have described instances of emotional and physical abuse.
The New York Times reports on meeting the mental health challenges in school and at home with ways to ease stress. CHAMP (Community Health Action Mental Perseverance) is a workshop series that provides help for parents and their children, following the pandemic. Other innovative programs include creating a stronger sense of belonging for college students and K-12 students who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and stress.
Other News
An op-ed for The New York Times looks at how worsening teen mental health can mirror disruptions within society. . Jamieson Webster, a clinical psychologist and professor at the New School, argues that conflicting ideals of globalization, competition, and independence lead to instability amongst teenagers.
WJCL News reports on Georgia State University helping athletes with their mental health on World Mental Health Day. The Hilinski Hope Foundation partners with universities to provide student athletes with resources.
The Sunflower reports on “Happy Wright,” an award winning play that highlights the struggles of mental illness for college students.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
An op-ed for The Chronicle argues that excessive rigor can disproportionately impact disabled students. Dr. Katie Rose Guest Pryal, an adjunct professor of law at the University of North Carolina School of Law, argues that “punitive attendance policies, strict deadlines, suspicion of disability accommodations, refusing to share class recordings and other materials” can be inaccessible and toxic to students who need accommodations. “Accessibility demands compassion, trust, and understanding, qualities that are anathema to toxic rigor.”
The Hechinger Report features an article on the low enrollment of Latino students at state flagship universities. In 2020, 31% of high school graduates in Colorado were Latino, yet only 14% of Colorado University Boulder’s full-time first year students were Latino. As funding for public universities decreases, schools look to wealthier out-of-state students to pay higher tuition – which can deter Latino students from enrolling. “[CU Boulder is] a very white institution and I just knew that that wasn’t something I was looking for,” said Colorado State student Leslie Andrade Magaña.
The Washington Post and The Hechinger Report report on the upcoming Supreme Court affirmative action case regarding college admissions. The Students for Fair Admissions allege that race-conscious admissions is unconstitutional in a law battle against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Court arguments for cases Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions and v. University of North Carolina are scheduled to begin October 31, with a tentative ruling set for next summer.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Politico notes that while Republican politicians have loudly opposed the participation of transgender athletes in collegiate sports, Democrats are often quiet on the subject. In anticipation of elections this November, the author writes that Democrats will need to either propose a law protecting trans athletes or “risk giving a Republican-controlled Congress more time to reverse the rule.”
Reproductive Justice
The Hechinger Report covers backlash on college campuses in states where abortion is now banned. In South Dakota, whose abortion ban is one of the most stringent, college students who want to end their pregnancy may need to travel between 40 and 140 miles out of state for reproductive care. For some, the daunting prospects are enough to make them reconsider their choice of college.
According to Inside Higher Ed, Benedictine College, a Catholine university, plans to establish a “new, independent Catholic medical school” on its Kansas campus. The new school, which may open as soon as 2026, will promote catholic values when it comes to reproductive and end-of-life care, including not performing abortions and advising patients against ending their pregnancies.
The New York Times reports on Barnard College’s plans to offer the abortion pill on campus. Starting next fall, the all-women’s college in New York City will offer medicated abortion to campus staff and students, in response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade. In a campus announcement sent out last week, officials stated: “The overturning of Roe v. Wade after 50 years will likely decrease college accessibility, result in lower graduation rates, and derail employment trajectories.”
Student Success
For WBUR, Maria Flynn, CEO of the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, encourages people to take advantage of the multitude of educational opportunities as an option to four-year college degrees.
College Affordability
According to The Washington Post, the Biden Administration has released a preview of the application for its student loan forgiveness program. Borrowers will need to report their social security number and confirm that their income was below $125,000 in 2020 and 2021 (or $250,000 for couples). The application will be available in Spanish and English, and on mobile or desktop devices.
Since the announcement of Biden’s debt relief plan, potential borrowers have been faced with scammers who are taking advantage of the confusion that accompanies the policy. NPR says the White House is trying to fight back by creating more awareness around potential scams and initiating the relief process as quickly as possible.
Basic Needs
The Chronicle and Insider Higher Ed cover efforts from undergraduate student workers, specifically Resident Assistants, to unionize and seek benefits for their labor. While undergraduate student unions are rare, they are becoming more prevalent. Groups at Mount Holyoke College and Barnard College are now trying to catch up to Wesleyan University and Grinnell College, where successful unions have been formed.
Inside Higher Ed reveals some colleges are helping students prepare for professional success in one of the most fundamental ways. At schools including Hofstra University, students now have access to “closets,” where they can find used or new work clothes to help them look the part for upcoming job interviews.
For students living in rural areas, transportation concerns—limited access, personal costs, etc.—can be a major barrier to education. The Chronicle reports that some schools are working to ease those burdens, including Lenoir Community College, where the program, Cars for College, helps students buy their own cars.
