Somewhere to Turn
I was happy to find an article in The Dartmouth written about pregnancy at the College a few weeks ago ("College offers services for pregnant students," April 21), but having done an independent study on this topic last term, I feel compelled to share some of my findings in order to provide a more complete picture. Through a campus-wide survey and several interviews, I have found that Dartmouth students and staff members are largely unaware of the resources available for undergraduate mothers. Along with Dartmouth's success-driven culture, this lack of awareness may contribute to the perception that it is unfeasible or is social suicide for undergraduates to become parents in the event of an unexpected pregnancy. Although the Dartmouth community takes many measures to prevent pregnancy, when a young woman does become pregnant, she may feel as though she must choose between having her baby and maintaining a happy, successful life. Without the support of the Dartmouth community, which might simply involve directing her toward readily available resources in the Upper Valley, she is left on her own to navigate one of the most important decisions of her life.