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Politics
by Cate Tarr
Illustration: Helen Tosteson
by Ethan Wattenberg
by Joe Mayo
Photo Credit: Connor Betts, Unsplash
by Jessica Lewin
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by Yifan Cui
Illustration: Helen Tosteson
RESOURCES
by Jessica Lewin
by Jadius McGhee
Wisconsin's supreme court and the state of reproductive rights
by Joe Mayo
by Jessica Lewin
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway provides insight on state of reproductive health care in Madison
by Cate Tarr
SIDEBAR
Who are the College Democrats?
The College Democrats are a group of UW-Madison students who advocate for the policies of the Democratic Party.
Maggie Keuler served as the head of the College Democrats at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before she graduated this past Spring.
The student organization provides opportunities for students to get involved in campaigning during elections, lobbying, internships, and more, according to their page on the UW-Madison website.
Much of their work involves reminding UW-Madison students of the importance of voting in midterm elections, the importance of which often gets overlooked, according to Keuler.
The student organization also hosts political leaders to address students.
This past fall, they hosted Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) from Congressional District 2, according to the Badger Herald Newspaper.
Later in the fall, the student group hosted a live watch party of the Senate debate with the Wisconsin College Republicans and the Election Research Center, according to the Badger Herald Newspaper.
The state of Wisconsin does not allow a woman to receive an abortion, but the mayor of Wisconsin’s capital, Satya Rhodes-Conway, strongly opposes the state law herself.
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In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, causing a law that banned most abortions in Wisconsin to be reinstated, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
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“There are so many ways in which state law constraints what we do at the city level that this just feels like yet another thing,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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The law forbids physicians to perform abortions in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin State Legislature.
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Despite the state law, enforcing the 1849 ban is not a priority within the Madison City Government, Rhodes-Conway stated.
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“The police chief, when I’ve talked to him about this, he’s said, ‘Listen. I’m not a doctor. My officers are not doctors. We do not know what kind of care people are getting, that’s none of our business, we don’t want to be in that situation,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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Although tension persists between the state law and local law enforcement, Madison is still subject to the laws of the state. Because of this reality, citizens and political leaders have taken it upon themselves to support and advocate for reproductive health care.
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Many Madison residents are focused on access to abortion care when thinking about reproductive rights, stated Rhodes-Conway.
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“That’s important…but I think there’s also a bigger picture,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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The bigger picture includes increasing services at reproductive clinics. In recent years, Madison officials have added staffing and funding to reproductive clinics so that they can provide access to contraceptives, according to Rhodes-Conway.
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Essential private philanthropic organizations are also important in raising money to cover the costs of transportation to clinics outside of Wisconsin. Through organizations like Planned Parenthood, transportation to abortion care in other states is made available, Rhodes-Conway stated.
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“Folks in Illinois, particularly the former mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, when the decision came down, she was very clear that anybody who needs care in Chicago is welcome to come here,” Rhodes-Conway stated.
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There has been a local effort in Madison to open a clinic in Rockford, Illinois, which is close to Wisconsin’s border to increase abortion access for Wisconsin citizens, according to Rhodes-Conway.
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The Rockford Police Force and the mayor of Rockford are both in support of the clinic, Jean Bissel, president of the Rockford Family Planning Foundation, stated in an exclusive interview with Channel 3000 News 3 Now.
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The most alarming issue for Rhodes-Conway is the disparities in infant mortality and infant birth weight between African American women and white women. Black mothers and Black babies have worse health outcomes in a wide variety of communities, Rhodes-Conway said.
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There are inequities in fetal and infant mortality impacting non-Hispanic Black communities and Native American/Alaska Native communities, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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Through collaboration with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, UW Health and more, Rhodes-Conway has placed more attention on Black mothers and babies in order to close inequity gaps, reduce disparities and ensure Black moms and babies have the health care they need to be successful, Rhodes-Conway stated.
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Another essential aspect of reproductive health care is a doula, someone who supports a pregnant woman throughout their pregnancy, during their birth and after the birth itself. A doula’s support ranges from getting a mother the correct nutrition and check-ups throughout pregnancy to helping with nursing or access to resources in the immediate after birth period, according to Rhodes-Conway.
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“We know environmental stress and nutrition can impact birth weight. We know that access to resources and housing can impact the long-term success of young people… I really see that full picture as being part of reproductive health care,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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Reproductive health care means supporting not only those who do not want to be pregnant but also those who do want to be pregnant. Providing mothers who give birth resources and support in a healthy way is essential too.
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Rhodes-Conway underscored that getting involved in advocating for reproductive health care could mean simply normalizing the conversation.
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“Women speaking up saying, ‘hey I had an abortion. This is normal, this is healthcare, this is our right.’ That is an example of normalizing the conversation and not making this a taboo subject,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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Directly supporting individuals who need abortion care while it remains illegal in Wisconsin is helpful too. Donating, volunteering and directly supporting organizations who help individuals get to and find abortion clinics is a necessity, according to Rhodes-Conway.
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Recruiting candidates, supporting campaigns and changing who is making decisions will aid direct legal challenge to the current law and change in state legislature, Rhodes-Conway stated.
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In the fall, University of Wisconsin-Madison students worked to campaign for Tony Evers, now Governor of Wisconsin, due to his support of reproductive health care, according to Maggie Keuler, the former head of college democrats at UW-Madison.
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“We did a lot of door to door contact, so we knocked [on] doors all around campus talking to students about election day, where to vote, why it is important and having those conversations early and often,” Keuler stated.
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Motivation for increasing reproductive health care has brought more students to the political space at UW-Madison, Keuler stated.
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“There’s a range of ways to make a difference,” Rhodes-Conway said.
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Although an archaic law hinders reproductive health care in the state of Wisconsin, direct support, candidate campaigning and speaking up about abortion itself will pave the way for change in the state and beyond.
In large part to Rhodes-Conway, Madison is nevertheless providing reproductive health care and investing in the increase of the service, despite the illegality of abortion itself.
With abortion debates still prevalent nationwide, women in Wisconsin are specifically affected by restrictive laws
by Ethan Wattenberg
Roe v. Wade is still at the forefront of American politics nearly a year after its overturning. While women in New York still have the right to an Abortion, women in Wisconsin, along with many other states, do not.
Initially implemented in 1973, Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision that proved the right to an abortion was granted within the American constitution. This decision, made by the United States Supreme Court, would go on to remove any anti-abortion laws that were in effect at the time, doing so until 2022. In 2022, nearly 50 years after its implementation, Roe v. Wade was overturned. This now made it a state-by-state decision on whether or not abortion was to be legal. While many states, such as New York, voted to keep abortion legal, Wisconsin voted the other way, making it entirely illegal.
This, in turn, has put women at increased risk, as they have no choice but to leave the state or to get an abortion in the state, usually by an unlicensed doctor, illegally. According to the Wisconsin State Government, in 2020, prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, over 4,600 women received abortions in Wisconsin. 60% of these abortions were done surgically, while the other 40% were done via medication. This 60% is indeed a staggering statistic, meaning that nearly 60% of all abortions done in Wisconsin will now have to be done in very unsafe circumstances as a result of the new laws in effect.
While many Wisconsinites are used to the rather strict abortion laws in state that were around even when Roe v. Wade was in effect, these restrictions set an overall bad precedent for the rest of the country.
Charlotte Krevit, a student at the University of Pennsylvania and a New York Native, says, “I really can’t believe that abortion is illegal in Wisconsin; that's news to me,” Krevit said. “That’s really just shocking. It honestly seems like a really bad idea to me. People are always going to want abortions, so why not just make them legal and safe?”
Krevitt went on to speak about her own experience seeing people attempting to get abortions. “I walk past planned parenthood on my way back from work every day, and I usually see five to 10 people waiting in line”, Krevitt said, “ I’ve never gone in, so I can’t speak on that, but it seems that the place is almost constantly packed. Obviously, New York City is a much larger place than Madison, but I can see how closing planned parenthood in Wisconsin could be very problematic.”
According to Planned Parenthood’s official website, Krevitt was correct. From the years of 2021 to 2022, the total number of people attending the clinic did indeed decline. While the number of total people fell by only 2,000, this is still worrying, showing that the overturning of Roe v Wade has stopped many from attending these clinics.
Moving forward, it remains crucial for advocates and activists to continue their efforts in fighting for reproductive rights and fighting for accessible healthcare like planned parenthood. The stories and experiences of those affected directly and indirectly by these restrictive laws, such as the one shared by Charlotte Krevit, serve as powerful reminders of the need for action and advocacy to make sure that all individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies.
Addressing the issues in reproductive healthcare and working towards equal access is a multi-dimensional and ongoing battle that requires education, awareness, and a commitment to fighting for the fundamental rights of all individuals. By coming together and uniting in support of reproductive rights, we can strive to build a nation where every person has the autonomy to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.
Contrasting realities in California and Wisconsin post Roe v. Wade
by Jessica Lewin
SIDEBAR
Contraception vending machines
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion of Roe v. Wade that perhaps other legal precedents needed to be reviewed.
One of these precedents include Griswold v. Connecticut which was used as the basis for widespread legalization of birth control. Because of this, sales of morning-after pills like Plan B surged, according to the Washington Post. In response, many universities have opted to equip their campus with emergency contraceptive vending machines.
According to AP news, there are now 39 universities in 17 states with emergency contraceptive vending machines, and at least 20 more considering them. To further enable accessibility, the state of Illinois and New York are developing legislation to require at least one of these vending machines on every state college campus.
Placing contraceptive vending machines on campus would both destigmatize birth control and allow students access to it on their own terms.
On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was overturned under the precedent of the Tenth Amendment, which dictates powers not delegated to the United States federal government by the constitution are reserved to states, or to the people. One year later, the remnants from the legal decision are still present.
California is one of the most progressive states in the country and fittingly has a more progressive outlook on reproductive health. The state has stood at the forefront of advocating for sexual education, access to contraception and to abortion healthcare. California has led the country in attempting to destigmatize and normalize healthy conversations about reproductive health. Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, has made it clear that not only will abortion remain legal and protected in California but that he will not cooperate with states attempting to prosecute women receiving productive care or doctors providing it to them.
On the other hand, Wisconsin is one of the 15 states that has completely banned abortions, according to the New York Times. 58% of people in Wisconsin believe abortions should be legal in most cases or in all cases, according to Spectrum News Local. Even so, reproductive health looks very different in Wisconsin than in California both politically and culturally.
While California is generally liberal in its views on reproductive health, there are still pockets of conservative opinions, especially in specific rural areas. However, these views are not as prominent as they are in Wisconsin. Currently, the minority opinion on reproductive health in Wisconsin is leading the state’s policy for all. The ways in which California and Wisconsin decided to proceed following the overturning of Roe v. Wade is vastly different. And, the current reproductive health policy in Wisconsin comes as a shock to both Californians and Wisconsinites.
“I have never visited Planned Parenthood or been greatly affected, but the overturning of Roe v. Wade does worry me deeply. I think those pushing agendas onto women and all times of people regarding how they should take care of their bodies are wrong,” said Lauren Mundt, a current student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mundt has been granted birth control from her gynecologist without any compilations. Because she is not a Wisconsin-native, Mundt is not too concerned with her ability to access contraceptives or other reproductive health treatments. Nonetheless, she is saddened by how Wisconsin has handled the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“I think both having a child and receiving an abortion are very personal matters. Every situation will be different to the individual and trying to institutionalize and debate right versus wrong feels irrational. The government should be enforcing reproductive justice, if anything, which enforces the idea that every human should be able to freely reproduce, express themselves and be supported in their reproductive endeavors, no matter what they want to do,” Mundt said.
Merle Bauer is a 76 year old woman who was a former educator in California and has experienced reproductive health services. She believes that while abortion being legal in California is positive, it goes too far to the left. She thinks that if a mother chooses to abort her child, it should take place during the embryonic stage — the first 10 weeks. Bauer also believes Wisconsin goes too far to the right. Not only should abortions be allowed to take place, but birth control should be easily accessible to all.
“Wisconsin has handled the overturning of Roe v. Wade negatively in that it has moved further to the right with regard to this issue. It is too extreme because it bans the procedure in nearly all cases,” Bauer said.
Despite this, she believes that Roe v. Wade has also been a positive for the country as it has moved the issue from the federal level to the state level.
Carli Cooperstein is a current student at Harvard and California-native. Cooperstein was shocked by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“I certainly was frightened to know there is reduced access to these [reproductive health] methods across the country, though I have felt secure in the access I have to these services in the places I receive care in,” Cooperstein said.
She also expressed that she feels grateful for her reproductive rights in the state of California. Reproductive health laws in Wisconsin make it harder for women to have control over something that directly affects their life and autonomy.
“These restrictions are unnecessary and harmful to both the women attempting to access care and the medical providers. It makes this country a much more difficult place for women - a true regression in our rights,” said Cooperstein.
In Wisconsin, requests for self-managed abortion medication tripled in the months following the overturning of Roe. v Wade. Data from the University of Colorado Boulder has shown that banning abortions increases maternal mortality by 24%. In states like Wisconsin where abortions are banned, there is an increased risk of injury for mothers that are forced to carry their pregnancy to term with no choice on the matter.
“It is wrong and frankly re-opened a can of worms that had been shut down years ago. Every person should have the right to do what they want with their own body. Regardless of one’s beliefs, no one should be allowed to decide what a person does with their body. Making abortion illegal will lead to unsafe abortion attempts, children who are not able to be supported properly, and many harmful and lasting effects on the person deciding whether or not to have an abortion,”said Mundt.
It’s only been a year since Roe v. Wade was overturned and the United States has likely not finished seeing all its consequences. Abortion healthcare is protected by the California State Constitution, according to the New York Times. The state also shields patients and providers from laws in other states. Currently in Wisconsin there is a lawsuit challenging the 1849 law that bans abortions, according to the New York Times. The case is most likely going to come before the Supreme Court. There is no telling what the future of women’s rights will look like, but states such as California demonstrate promise.
Global Voices on Wisconsin's 1849 Abortion Ban: UW-Madison Students Abroad Share Insights
by Yifan Cui
QINGDAO, China — Amid debates over Wisconsin's historic 1849 abortion ban, international students studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offer diverse perspectives on its impact, shedding light on the global discourse on reproductive rights.
Following the overturning of the landmark decision Roe v. Wade in 2022, Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban faces renewed scrutiny for its effect on local abortion access and its resonance in the national dialogue on reproductive autonomy. University of Wisconsin-Madison international students in China provide unique insights. In interviews, they drew parallels between abortion regulations, illuminating the ban's local impact and its global significance within the broader reproductive rights discussion.
Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban, a historic legislative measure, has gained renewed attention after the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Enacted over a century prior to this influential Supreme Court decision, the ban criminalized performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy unless it is done to save a pregnant person's life, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. The 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling established constitutional abortion rights for women, reshaping US abortion laws to balance choice and state regulation. The recent reversal prompts a reevaluation of Wisconsin's historic ban and its effects on local abortion access, reigniting debates on reproductive autonomy.
Yijia Sui, a medical sciences major from Qingdao, China, highlighted the differences in societal norms and government policies between China and Wisconsin.
"Within China, the legality and accessibility of abortion services are well-established. While regulations exist, there's a paramount emphasis on providing safe and professional care," she said, "the debate in Wisconsin underscores the importance of ensuring women's health and well-being regardless of legal frameworks.”
Transitioning from medical perspectives to sociological dimensions, Fan Zhang, another UW student from Qingdao studying sociology at UW-Madison, delved into aspects of public opinion.
"China's historical one-child policy, although no longer in force, has left enduring perceptions about reproduction within our society. Abortions were often used to ensure compliance with the policy's restrictions," Zhang said, "the relatively limited religious activities and institutions may also contribute to fewer controversies on abortion in China.”
Offering a cultural viewpoint, Wenxuan Ren, a student in the gender studies program, injected insights into the narrative, adding that respecting individual autonomy should be paramount, regardless of specific regulations.
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"Cultural values and family structures wield considerable influence over reproductive choices in China," Ren said, "the overarching theme remains the importance of a woman's agency in making decisions about her body.”
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Back in Wisconsin, passionate voices have also been raised in response to the controversial abortion ban. We spoke with Tara Sherchok, a resident of Madison, who expressed her rage and concern.
"This ban is a step backward for women's rights," Sherchok said, "it's frustrating to see our state make decisions that limit reproductive choices and autonomy. It feels like we're regressing to a time when women's voices weren't heard.”
Since the commencement of abortion reporting in 1987, Wisconsin's official data indicates a significant reduction of over 60% in abortion procedures conducted within the state. The peak of induced abortions was recorded in 1988, totaling 17,986, which considerably dropped to 6,430 by 2020, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette. The highly restrictive abortion access in the state following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade has prompted a renewed focus on these figures, leading experts to assess potential implications for abortion rates and women's reproductive choices in the state.
Comparatively, transitioning to a two-child policy in 2015, the Chinese government began taking measures to reduce the abortion rate for unmarried women in China, aiming to address problems stemming from the one-child policy — an extreme gender imbalance, a declining birth rate and a rapidly aging population, as reported by The World. These data underscore the intricate interplay of legal frameworks, societal norms and healthcare policies shaping abortion rates and access across different regions.
As discussions regarding the Wisconsin 1849 abortion ban gain momentum, international students' viewpoints in China emerge as significant contributors, underscoring the extensive impact of debates on reproductive rights. With each perspective offered, the conversation broadens, transcending geographical confines. Promoting inclusive discourse and diverse opinions is critical, as these international students and local advocates contribute their unique voices to a thorough examination of reproductive rights concerns.