DePaul’s Reproductive Rights Group Faces Ban: Students Adapt with Off-Campus Outreach

DePaul University Reproductive Rights Group Faces Ban | Future Education Magazine

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DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the U.S., has revoked the official recognition of its Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGA) chapter, citing conflicts with its Catholic-Vincentian identity. University officials stated that the group’s affiliation with Planned Parenthood—which supports access to contraception and reproductive healthcare—contravenes Catholic doctrine and DePaul’s institutional values. This move effectively strips the student group of the ability to meet, advertise, or distribute resources on campus.

Despite the setback, PPGA leaders have vowed to continue their advocacy. Maya Roman, a senior and the chapter’s president since 2022, emphasized the group’s resilience. “We’re not giving up,” she said. The chapter plans to re-register under a new, non-affiliated identity focused on “reproductive justice,” distancing itself from Planned Parenthood to better align with university policies.

‘Womb Service’: Students Launch Off-Campus Contraceptive Delivery Network

In response to DePaul University’s policy banning distribution of contraceptives—including condoms and emergency contraception—on campus grounds, the PPGA chapter launched a creative workaround: a grassroots initiative called “Womb Service.” Volunteers discreetly deliver items like condoms, pregnancy tests, and dental dams to students on public sidewalks just outside campus, fulfilling requests placed anonymously online.

Delivering roughly 15 to 25 orders weekly, the group avoids campus grounds entirely to stay within the bounds of DePaul’s guidelines. Deliveries are made in brown paper bags, with pickups arranged on public property near DePaul’s Lincoln Park and downtown campuses. Roman described the service as a critical health resource, especially given many students’ lack of access to comprehensive sex education in high school.

Student volunteers behind the initiative argue that removing access to contraception doesn’t prevent sexual activity—it simply removes safe options. “We’re meeting a need that’s not going away,” one member noted.

Balancing Faith and Health: The Debate Intensifies

The controversy at DePaul University reflects a growing national debate over reproductive rights on religiously affiliated campuses. Health advocates argue that denying contraception access undermines student welfare, especially among populations already at higher risk of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Research by the Guttmacher Institute shows that nearly half of all unintended pregnancies in the U.S. occur among young adults aged 18–24.

In June, PPGA members held a town hall off-campus to discuss their future. The group unanimously voted to seek reinstatement under a new name, focusing on reproductive justice without direct ties to Planned Parenthood. The organization is currently in discussions with DePaul University ‘s Office of Student Involvement to better understand the university’s policies and approval processes.

Roman emphasized that their efforts align with the university’s Vincentian mission of compassion, service, and social justice. “We’re acting in the spirit of using knowledge to serve others,” she said.

As the fall semester approaches, the future of the group remains uncertain—but their mission to educate and empower fellow students continues with renewed purpose.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2zrylqzeyo

https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/14/future-uncertain-depaul-university-student-group-providing-sex-education-contraception

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