There have been numerous attempts to smear Planned Parenthood in recent months. Some of them have been carefully crafted, others have been on the nonsensical side. 

One thing missing from both categories is reality. Planned Parenthood provides so many beneficial services to people of all walks of life. They provide education, STI testing and so many other imperative health services. 

A group coming to campus this week, the Planned Parenthood Project, plans to spread some common myths about Planned Parenthood, so let’s clear some things up beforehand:

Myth 1: Planned Parenthood is a business specializing in the sale of abortions.

Fact: Abortion services account for three percent of what Planned Parenthood provides.

Myth 2: All Planned Parenthood locations donate body parts.

Fact: One percent of Planned Parenthood facilities donate tissue cells to research toward life-saving medical discoveries.

Myth 3: Planned Parenthood targets college campuses.

Fact: Services are provided for a fee based on income, which means the health centers are more likely to be in a neighborhood with more low-income folks, such as near a college campus. Unfortunately, Kansas took away Title X funding for the centers, the funding that allowed fees on a sliding scale.

But I don’t want to get too caught up in facts and figures because this is a human issue. Planned Parenthood serves the people who had a night out gone wrong and need STI testing. Planned Parenthood serves the teen who needs pregnancy testing confidential from their parents. Planned Parenthood provides education to anyone needing guidance in navigating a healthy and happy sex life. 

All of these human aspects are all facts, as well, but it seems that the opposition groups like to gloss over and ignore them. This is likely because these groups know so many people have relied on Planned Parenthood in their time of need, including when they find themselves needing an abortion. 

Through the battle being waged by the opposition groups, similar to the one coming to campus on Planned Parenthood, the health clinic will always find a way to provide comprehensive sexual health services.

— Junior Marilyn Morton