 "Photo: Keryn Senn/The Daily Gamecock")
Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX) is raising awareness of affordable birth control and safe sexual practices by participating in "A-B-C Week."
"A-B-C Week," or Affordable Birth Control week, is a nationwide movement for VOX chapters to advocate the importance of affordable birth control options.
Kate Hampton, the South Carolina field coordinator for Planned Parenthood, said VOX chapters would be participating in a multitude of different ways.
"VOX chapters nationwide will be signing up supporters, calling representatives and encouraging their fellow peers to flex their power as new voters," Hampton said.
A number of colleges have increased their prices for birth control, including USC, due to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 (DRA). The DRA eliminated the ability for college campuses to provide birth control options at lower prices for college students through relationships with pharmaceutical companies. Hampton said there has often been a five to ten percent increase in the price of birth control on college campuses.
Katie Jarriel, secretary of the university's VOX chapter and second-year anthropology student, said she thinks "A-B-C Week" is very vital to USC's campus.
" 'A-B-C Week' is important to remind people to practice safe sex," Jarriel said.
Sexual health education is a very important issue to Jarriel and to VOX.
"It's something that I feel strongly about," Jarriel said, "People just really need to be educated."
Current VOX co-presidents Kathleen Kemp and Beth Hinson formed the USC chapter of VOX last year during spring semester to help promote safe sex around campus. Hinson helped start the club as a means to advocate sexual health education and practices.
"Pro-choice issues have always been important to me," said Hinson, a second-year international studies student.
Hinson said she still wants to see students get the birth control that they need.
"I want to see birth control available for students," Hinson said, "It shouldn't be a big deal to be able to get it [birth control]."
One of the organization's events this week will include tabling in front of Russell House on Wednesday to promote SOS (Safe Oral Sex) Day. Jarriel said there was a problem with misconceptions of oral sex campus.
"I think that it's a problem on this campus," Jarriel said.
VOX also entered a dress in Project Condom, which takes place Wednesday night. VOX will table again outside of Russell House again on March 26.
VOX currently hosts 15 active members and meets on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Calcott 202.
The student organization, which advocates Planned Parenthood as well as safe sexual practices on campuses, has more than 200 chapters nationally, including chapters at Clemson University and College of Charleston.
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