Young Democratic Socialists of America began tabling the week of Oct. 26 as part of its pressure campaign for the Clemson administration to make contraceptives more accessible on campus.

John Long, president of YDSA Clemson, said in an interview with The Tiger that the group’s focus is on building power and infrastructure “back into democratic processes” that it believes have been degraded by the influence of money and politics.

YDSA’s general mission is to “ensure that people who have the weakest voice are lifted up the most.”

Currently, national YDSA is focusing on campaigns for colleges and universities to provide free Plan B One-Step, an emergency contraceptive that prevents or delays ovulation. This campaign is based on similar ones that have been successful, notably at Florida International University, whose health clinic now provides free Plan B by appointment.

Through the pressure campaign, the group aims to make condoms more readily available. Condoms are currently available for free at Redfern Health Center, as well as in vending machines in residential halls for a charge.

YDSA’s current efforts include distributing flyers, tabling and planning a future pregnancy scare event. At the moment, the organization has approximately 150 signatures on its petition, with a goal of 800.

Once the campaign has advanced further and the petition is completed, the members plan on presenting it to Ronda McWhorter, pharmacy director at Redfern.

Tigers for Life, a pro-life organization at Clemson, said in a statement that the University should focus on providing free resources to women undergoing pregnancies, rather than promoting Plan B. “Not only does Plan B have fatal effects on babies, but can harm the woman taking the pill.”

Long mentioned the bill currently residing in a South Carolina Senate Committee, S. 323, the Unborn Child Protection Act. He noted that the current campaign is informed by the bill, saying that it gave them another reason to pursue pressure. Long also said that the organization wants to raise the point that the bill “goes against what most people in the state want,” and this petition and campaign could serve as proof of that.

He discussed the importance of a campaign like this on a campus such as Clemson’s, explaining that it can be easy to feel like change isn’t possible, “especially if you’re in an area where maybe you’re on the back foot on some issues.” He believes that there’s importance in finding a base of “people who are committed towards making good change.”

Referring to the organization and campaign as a “grass-roots” effort, Long noted the importance of participation in movements like this, and how people can “build together where they can push back against legislation.”

When asked about how this campaign fits into Clemson’s current environment amid heightened political discourse, Long said that the group is a political organization, but one that differs from the “default politics of Clemson by a significant bit.” He stated that there are different ways people can exist in that space.

On the topic of free speech, following recent debate on campus, Long stated that it was a privilege to “use this medium to enact political change where we are.”

Specifically, he emphasized the importance of readily available contraception on college campuses. He said that when a person’s ability to “handle things responsibly” is denied, their experience is worsened.

YDSA has partnered with Planned Parenthood Generation Action in its tabling efforts, which provides free Plan B to give students while tabling.

In regard to the pressure campaign, Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Clemson has a goal of ensuring “that every student can make informed choices about their own health without barriers of cost or availability,” Emma Abraham, president of PPGA, told The Tiger.

The group shares the hope with YDSA for Clemson’s administration to “take meaningful steps toward policies that reflect the real needs of students — policies that treat reproductive health not as a privilege, but as a basic part of caring for our campus community.”