Emergency Contraception Access
on Campus: Columbia University Initiative

Partners: Reproductive Justice Collective of New York, Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Columbia University
Project leads: Krithvi Rayarapu, Marlee Turner, and Marisol Rojas-Cheatham

Project Overview

Repro Uncensored has teamed up with the student organizers from Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Columbia University and the Reproductive Justice Collective of New York to build a student-led response to a critical gap in campus healthcare: the lack of affordable, accessible, and confidential emergency contraception (EC).

What began as an informal, student-run system to distribute emergency contraception at no cost has evolved into a sustained, data-driven advocacy effort aimed at reshaping how reproductive healthcare is accessed on campus. Rooted in principles of reproductive justice, this initiative centers student autonomy, privacy, and dignity, particularly in moments of urgency and vulnerability.

In spring 2025, organizers launched a comprehensive campus-wide survey to document student experiences with Columbia’s existing EC access points. Nearly 400 students responded within months, underscoring the scale and urgency of the issue.

Key Findings

The survey results revealed systemic barriers to emergency contraception access:

  • 86% of respondents reported that current on-campus EC options are unaffordable

  • Nearly 20% rated EC accessibility at the lowest possible score of 1/10

  • Average campus accessibility rating was 4.6/10

  • Students reported frequent barriers including broken or unstocked machines, restricted locations behind security desks, limited hours, and lack of privacy

Project Timeline

  • 11/16/23: Created the Emergency Contraception Request Form

  • 12/01/23: Received first shipment of Plan B on campus

  • 11/11/24: Campus survey published to collect testimony on reproductive and sexual health access

  • 02/11/25: Introductory meeting with OTC Cadence founder Samantha Miller

  • 02/15/25: Introductory meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 02/21/25: Hosted promotional event for EC experiences survey

  • 02/24/25: Meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 02/27/25: Meeting with Columbia SVR Administration

  • 03/09/25: Updated survey republished to collect additional student testimony

  • 04/17/25: Meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 05/08/25: Initial meeting with Columbia Direct Services Administration

  • 07/08/25: Meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 08/07/25: Follow-up meeting with OTC Cadence

  • 09/11/25: Meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 09/29/25: Meeting with Head of Columbia Student Health Advisory Committee

  • 10/16/25: Meeting with Columbia Direct Services

  • 10/27/25: Meeting with Columbia Student Health Advisory Committee

  • October 2025: Final tablings for survey data collection

  • 10/30/25: Meeting with Columbia Health Operations and Campus Services

  • 11/03/25: Follow-up meeting with Columbia Student Health Advisory Committee

  • 12/04/25: Meeting with SimpliCheck

  • 12/04/25: EC Access Initiative street interviews

  • 02/09/26: Follow-up meeting with Columbia Health Operations and Campus Services

    • Over 98% of respondents said they would support a vending machine offering affordable sexual and reproductive health products

    • Students emphasized 24/7 access, discretion, and convenience as essential features

  • Beyond quantitative data, the survey collected powerful firsthand accounts illustrating what restricted access means in practice:

    “They’re too expensive in general and it feels like Columbia and Vengo are taking advantage of students who are scared and emotionally vulnerable for profit.”

    “I’ve had friends who couldn’t access Plan B in time due to pharmacy hours, this would be a game changer.”
    “It would help destigmatize sexual health and show Columbia supports students’ full well-being.”

    These testimonies highlight that EC access is not only a matter of cost, but of bodily autonomy, privacy, and safety.

  • In response, the coalition developed a proposal for a reduced-cost wellness vending machine providing 24/7 access to essential sexual, reproductive, and harm-reduction supplies.

    The proposed model includes emergency contraception, menstrual care products, condoms, pregnancy tests, STI testing kits, and naloxone. The initiative emphasizes confidentiality by design, reducing stigma and surveillance while ensuring timely access.

    To support implementation, organizers partnered with SimpliCheck, a wellness kiosk provider specializing in discreet, privacy-conscious health vending solutions. The model integrates reproductive healthcare with broader wellness and harm-reduction support, reflecting a holistic approach to student health equity.

  • Since early 2025, student organizers have engaged in ongoing dialogue with campus administrators, health services, and advisory committees to advance this proposal. Through sustained meetings, tabling, survey dissemination, and coalition-building, the initiative seeks to institutionalize a model that treats reproductive healthcare as an essential campus service rather than a luxury or afterthought.


  • This project is more than a single-campus intervention. It contributes to a growing national movement led by students reclaiming access to reproductive healthcare in environments shaped by rising costs, restricted information, and institutional inertia.

    By documenting barriers, elevating student voices, and proposing scalable access models, this initiative demonstrates how grassroots organizing can generate practical solutions grounded in reproductive justice, privacy, and care