MEET THE ORGANIZERS OF THE GWU CONTRACEPTIVE PILL VENDING MACHINE PROJECT
Aiza Saeed and Neharika Rao are members of George Washington University (GW)’s student government who have spent months working to install a contraceptive pill vending machine on their campus. On January 24, 2023, the machine was successfully installed in the University Student Center.
The team @ FEMINIST had the opportunity to catch up with the founders to dive deeper into their inspiration behind the initiative and the importance of why now. ⬇️
Left to right, Neharika Rao and Aiza Saeed
Q: What motivated you both to lead the Plan B Vending Machine project?
“After the overturning of Roe v Wade we were motivated to integrate a wellness vending machine into GW's campus to show students that GW supported all of their needs. Reproductive rights are human rights and we believed having an emergency contraception was the first step to show that. We similarly wanted to increase affordability and accessibility of contraception and help defeat stigma behind such topics.”
Q: In June of 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned, less than half a year before what would have marked its 50th anniversary in effect. What impact do you feel this decision has and will continue to have on students?
“It is definitely a war on reproductive rights meaning it is a war on human rights. I believe that students across the country will need to feel supported in hard times like this one, and by implementing small measures like a wellness vending machine they are able to feel supported.”
Q: What advice would you give to other students looking to install emergency contraception vending machines on their campuses?
“I would definitely say if you put your mind to it it is possible. Aiza and I believed it would never happen but when working with administration and hearing how much students wanted it, persistence really ensured it worked out.”
Q: How can people get involved and support this project moving forward?
“I think the first step is just having the conversation with your peers to ensure that the stigma behind Roe v Wade and contraception is starting to be defeated. From there just make sure you are providing an environment where every student similarly feels supported.”
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
“Being a feminst means standing up for people in hard times. It means putting ourselves out there to protect the rights of ourselves and showing everyone that they can be a feminst too.”
This effort was a response to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and was sparked by a conversation with student president, Christian Zidouemba. GWU is the 32nd university with an emergency contraception vending machine, according to the American Society for Emergency Contraception.