Take the EC Campus Challenge!
Calling All Pro-Choice College Students Take the 2nd Annual EC Campus Challenge! It was great news to hear that people 18 and older can now buy emergency contraception (EC) over the counter – but for $40-60 a pop? Let’s face it; it’s not easy for a college student to pay that price if she wants to back up her birth control. On top of that, you may have noticed that the cost of regular birth control at your campus health center has sky-rocketed. Too many college health centers and safety-net family planning clinics have had to drastically increase the price of birth control methods because of a provision in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act that eliminated their discounts on BC. Because of the bill, many college students have had to switch their birth control to a less expensive version or even now rely on emergency contraception, reports the Daily Women’s Health Policy Report. In other words, the four million college-age women across America - along with low-income women who rely on the 400 safety-net family planning clinics - may need to back up their BC with EC now more than ever before. Let’s do something about it. It’s up to you to help spread the word about EC on your campus! We’re looking for students, resident advisors or campus groups to create and implement an original, educational and fun way to spread the word about EC. Register online with your idea to spread the word on campus by February 15, 2008–the most fresh, creative and educational idea will win a $ 250 PRIZE ! Here’s how you can join the EC Campus Challenge: 1. Register! Come up with your EC Campus Challenge idea to spread the word on campus and register your idea with us. There is no limitation on the type of project that you can submit – you just have to make it fresh and creative, and you have to do it this March! Register Here! Once you’ve completed the registration form, we’ll send you a packet of Back Up Your Birth Control materials to get you started. Note: Sorry, only New York State colleges/groups apply! 2. Spread the Word! This is your opportunity to use your imagination to get people excited about EC. Get out there and implement your Challenge project on or around the Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action on March 25, 2008! Don’t forget to document what you’ve done – pictures, videos, flyers, whatever. Just make sure you can tell us what you did! 3. Submit your Challenge Entry! Ok, you’ve done your job. Now tell us about it! You’ll be sending your entry to us at info@prochoiceny.org or via mail. Your Challenge submission should be sufficiently detailed and include video, pictures or any necessary aides to show implementation on campus and to enable the judges to properly analyze each submission. In order to qualify for the prize, challengers must submit a plan that includes the implementation process of their idea no later than February 15, 2008. Prize? What Prize? The winner will be determined by a team of experts in the field of community organizing and EC education. The EC Campus Challenge winner will: · Be profiled on both the NARAL Pro-Choice New York website · The national Back Up Your Birth Control website · Spotlighted in NARAL Pro-Choice New York’s newsletter going to over 50,000 New Yorkers · Receive a cash award of $ 250!!  Just check out last year’s winner, Barnard/Columbia Students for Choice, who took the cake – literally – with their delicious EC bake sale. Their project truly made a difference on their campus – and so can yours.
Register today! If you have any questions or concerns, contact Carolyn Fraker by email or call 646-520-3513.
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