June 24, 2022

Supreme Court’s Consequential Decision

This morning’s Supreme Court decision overruling a precedent of almost 50 years protecting a woman’s right to choose abortion is tremendously consequential for tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people in this country.

It is important to underscore that UCI will continue to recognize the right of women to choose abortion as required by California law and as guided by the ethical obligations of our healthcare providers — including those in our Student Health Center — who consider reproductive rights to be healthcare rights.

For more on what the Supreme Court’s decision means for our community, I share with you a statement from University of California President Michael Drake, as well as one from the dean of our School of Medicine, Dr. Michael Stamos.

UC Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision
UCI School of Medicine statement on reproductive rights
While these will continue to be the university’s practices, please keep in mind that on our campus everyone remains free to express whatever views they may have on these topics. There are fundamental ethical and legal questions at the heart of this long-standing debate, and it remains the mission of the university to act as an essential forum for deepening our community’s understanding of these issues, as well as our understanding of the political and social implications of the Court’s decision.

Fiat Lux – Let There Be Light.

Chancellor Howard Gillman