Choosing a college is about sculpting your future – programs, majors, clubs, teams, and eventual careers. But what if your future is cut short or hijacked by an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy and a state law which undermines your bodily autonomy and your healthcare choices?

None of us want to think of that happening, but we know that sexual assaults happen on college campuses. We know that birth control fails. And now we know that colleges and universities in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi and Ohio are unable to protect students’ rights to get an abortion. States like Missouri and Louisiana are considering similar legislation and could impose similar restrictions on students’ rights.

Therefore, we are notifying all colleges and universities in those states that we will not be applying in the coming years. We will not allow our future to be ruined or upended by regressive state laws which undermine our individual rights under the Constitution of the United States.

We recognize that this is an action, but it is also a privilege. Higher education is a privilege and being able to choose out-of-state colleges is a privilege. Because of this, we understand that this pledge is not something that everyone can commit to. But we are asking those of you who have that privilege to use it wisely and sign on.