Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of The Commuter staff or the college.
My name is Devon Graham and I am a part-time faculty instructor at LBCC. I have the amazing opportunity to teach and learn alongside students in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Each student I have had the chance to work with is dedicated, intelligent, and excited about their academic career. It’s truly amazing to be a part of a school like this.
As all teachers here at LBCC are, I am deeply invested in the academic success of my students. It is this sentiment that motivated me to write this letter. Here at LBCC, we are dedicated to “cultivating an environment for success” for our students, and I want to draw attention to one common barrier facing our students: access to reproductive health services. A 2020 report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research confirms what many educators know, that pregnancy and parenting can make it harder for our students to graduate.
In fact, “research shows that access to contraception and abortion improved a range of economic outcomes for women, including educational attainment (Bernstein and Jones 2019a; Bernstein and Jones 2019b).” I know that access to a wide number of reproductive health education and options is vital for the immediate and long-term well-being of our entire student body, particularly our women students.
It strikes me as contradictory, then, that our own wonderful publication, the student-run and edited Commuter, is willing to allow an organization that is not invested in the wellbeing of our students to advertise in its publication and online. True “inclusive education” at LBCC means that all students’ needs are centered, and accurate and accessible information is a given.
In our lesson on reproductive justice, my students in WS223: Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality, were assigned an essay that discusses crisis pregnancy centers in the United States. Upon realizing that one exists in Albany, and is advertised in The Commuter, my students have been granted the opportunity to make their knowledge heard on the subject. The following letters have been written based on the students’ own research and their own opinions.
I feel a deep gratitude to the entire staff of The Commuter for their dedication to amplifying the voices of our wonderful students. It is an honor to work here at Linn-Benton and with a community so dedicated to our mission.
Thank you,
Devon Graham
In the March issue of The Commuter, you published a paid ad from Options, a local Albany-based pregnancy crisis center. I have been informed that upon being urged to take down the ad, your editors have decided to keep it up. As a student and community member, I believe it is my right and responsibility to inform you of the establishment you are choosing to support.
Crisis pregnancy centers are non-medical centers that market themselves as safe, community-led medical centers that focus on the wellbeing of women, and offer options for unexpected pregnancies. In reality, they are centers seeking to intercept women with unwanted pregnancies and persuade them to not get abortions.
They may offer opportunities for urine pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. They cannot prescribe medication, offer pregnancy blood tests, or provide abortions. They may be endorsed by local medical professionals, but they themselves can give no legitimate medical advice.
According to a journal published by the AMA Journal of Ethics, “centers lack regulatory oversight as they are not medical practices and do not charge for services. This exempts them not only from laws and statutes specific to medical clinics but also from Federal Trade Commission or state regulations that apply to commercial enterprises.”
Because of their status as non-billing, non-medical centers, they are also non-HIPAA compliant. The women they claim to support are not guaranteed actual privacy or legal protection.
In addition to all this, CPC’s spread misinformation to vulnerable women. Options’ website itself claims that following abortions, medical professionals “reassemble” the fetus in order to make sure no body parts are missing. This assertion is completely unfounded in any documented medical procedures. This graphic depiction is a peak example of fear mongering.
It also claims that abortion pills can be reversible, an assertion many medical organizations such as The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of Midwives, and many others claim is completely untrue.
Options’ website repeatedly warns about the severe bleeding, pain, complications, and emotional danger of abortions, while failing to do so for pregnancies. All of these symptoms are equally possible risks of pregnancy and childbirth.
Options’ website continuously praises the beauty and joy of pregnancy and motherhood, while ignoring the role of abortion as a life-saving procedure for some women. Options repeatedly claims to be an unbiased resource for women seeking help, but uses anti-abortion propaganda to frighten women into other choices.
Options repeatedly fails to mention its religious affiliation. Only once, in small gray font, does Options state that “our faith is the basis for our actions and our decisions are in line with our beliefs.” In addition to other resources Options claims to provide, it offers “information about a relationship with Jesus Christ.” Religion is not the issue of this matter – the repeated deception about the center’s true motives and values is. Options is not a legitimate, unbiased medical center like it claims.
Linn-Benton Community College appears to endorse Options in the newspaper, on informational slideshows on TV’s around campus, and even allowed Options a presence at LBCC Welcome Day.
As a student here, I am extremely disappointed with your insistence in keeping the ad up, and I beg you to reconsider. I beg you to think about the young girls on your campus. I beg you to think about their health and security. If you continue to support such an organization, I beg you to understand your direct part in the harm it causes your students.
As journalists, you pride yourself on spreading information and stories as unbiased as possible. Your support of Options negates the very essence of truth and journalism. As a publication of a community college, it is your responsibility to consider and look after the safety of all your students. Instead of doing this, as a business and institution, your insistence upon the publication of this ad has demonstrated your prioritization of money over the physical and mental wellbeing of your students. Please reconsider.
Mar Lawley
I am writing this regarding Options Pregnancy Resource Center having a paid advertisement for LBCC students in the school news magazine, The Commuter. It was brought to my attention by my instructor, Devon Graham, when we discussed the topic of reproductive justice through history and our current climate of reproductive rights for women in our Intro to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies class.
Ms. Graham brought up crisis pregnancy centers, or CPC’s, which are described by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as “facilities that represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics providing care for pregnant people but actually aim to dissuade people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care and even contraceptive options.” Options appears to be just that; a center that claims to have many resources for pregnant people, but does not consider all options available to a pregnant person.
It is a worrying sentiment that CPC’s “represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics.” It’s possible that these are not true clinics in the slightest, even if they provide a handful of the same services that a legitimate healthcare clinic may provide.
When navigating to the local Options website, we can find their pages titled “Be Informed.” Here, you can find that they have abortion, adoption, parenting, and sexual health as different options.
Under “adoption,” we have an image of a smiling woman and information regarding adoption. It clearly states reasons why one person may consider putting their baby up for adoption and the two different types of adoption that can take place, open and closed adoptions.
Options is not an adoption agency, however, I find it strange that they do not list adoption agencies in Oregon as possible resources on their information page.
On the “parenting” page, it shows a photo of two women talking with a smile, and beneath that is a short blurb empathizing with the reader about the overwhelming feeling that comes with the possibility of being a parent. It does not list resources on the website for parents, but it says to come into the clinic to discuss resources.
Under the sexual health page, we see a photo of two women talking once more with one smiling. This page seems to have the least information compared to their other informational pages provided but offers a small blurb about STI’s, their statistics currently, and a bit saying to come in for resources regarding sexually transmitted infections and where to get tested.
I find it odd that it does not cover preventative measures for STI’s or discuss ways to have safe sex.
Finally, the abortion page shows a photo of a woman with a rather tense and pensive expression with information regarding abortion below it.
There are some things I’d like to bring to light about this page. When discussing abortion, it uses harsh rhetoric when compared to the other informational pages, describing abortion as the only option to have “consequences.”
This makes the decision of abortion out to be something inherently negative, something that inherently will have negative consequences on your life if you do choose to have an abortion. While abortion has risks involved, like any other medical procedure, the risk percentages, according to a study done in 2023 by the National Library of Medicine, “the total abortion-related complication rate of all sources of care including emergency departments and the original abortion facility is estimated to be about 2%,” making it safer than getting your wisdom teeth removed.
It’s good to be aware of the possible side effects of abortion, but it is irresponsible to refer to abortion as the only option during an early stage pregnancy to have “consequences.”
Why do they not list side effects and possible complications for carrying a baby to term? Complications can occur in pregnancy or during or after birth as well, as cited by the National Library of Medicine, “Worldwide, for an estimated 358,000 women, pregnancy and childbirth end in death and mourning, and beyond these maternal deaths, 9-10% of pregnant women or about 14 million women per year suffer from acute maternal complications.”
I believe that Options describes abortion in such great detail and covers all possible side effects as a way to scare the reader away from the idea of abortion. When taking this into account, we are seeing a picture that is pushing an anti-abortion agenda with harsh rhetoric used to demonize abortion and warn people against abortion rather than provide a supportive message to people who may consider abortion. If we are going to provide people who may be vulnerable and unsure of their options with information that is biased towards one end of the scale, we are not doing right by the people who may need assistance.
Options is advertising to a community college with a graphic design that targets younger and vulnerable individuals. The ad showcased in The Commuter displays a design of a smartphone text message chain, where two people go back and forth about one being pregnant, expressing fear and uncertainty, and concluding that Options helped them figure out exactly what they want to do. With an initial glance, this advertisement is relatable to young students who are unsure of their full array of options in regards to pregnancy.
Options Resource Center, though, does not offer a full array of options. The Commuter should not have Options as a paid advertisement in our school newsmagazine, plain and simple. It is a biased organization that uses scare tactics and misinformation with the aim to demonize abortion and does not offer all the “options” a pregnant person may need or want.
If someone is pregnant and needs guidance on what to do next, they should visit their local doctors, gynecologists, or a Planned Parenthood clinic. It’s truly harmful to have a targeted ad displayed in a community college news magazine that does not provide unbiased information regarding someone’s options or needs.
The Options advertisement should be removed from the newsmagazine, as the name is not true to what they are truly doing. They are not providing pregnant people with all of their “Options”; they’re trying to get pregnant people not to choose abortion.
– Dylan Bennett
As a mother of two children, and a returning student to LBCC, I want to shine light on Options, an organization advertised in The Commuter. Options, and other pregnancy resource centers in our area, claim to offer solutions for crisis pregnancies through testing, ultrasounds, literature on the benefits of adoption alongside informational handouts explaining the risks of abortion and a refusal to offer abortion referrals.
While these basic resources are acceptable and good, there is a significant blind spot in addressing the greater risks and needs associated with carrying a baby full term, birth, postpartum and choosing the path of motherhood or adoption that I believe should also be provided in detail from the earliest outreach to newly pregnant women who are looking at the “options.”
I chose both of my babies, and through pregnancy, two cesarean surgeries and the years that followed, I had a committed partner who always maintained steady employment when I had to leave my job, an extended family support system who have given financial and physical resources time and time again and a generally privileged life. And even with these positive influences, I was unprepared for the health factors of pregnancy, the instability of my body’s response to recovery and hormonal changes post birth, the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that comes to every parent when caring for an infant day in and day out.
The financial conflict of working entry-level jobs with no sick time, paid time off or healthcare and the high cost for basic living expenses, including childcare, which is necessary to attend college or keep employment, the average cost ranging from $800-$1500 a month for full-time enrollment in Corvallis, is a significant struggle even with the benefits I have had.
Much of the community college student population is straight out of high school, students going through major life transitions as I am, divorced or in a health crisis, trying to find a way to create a sustainable career path for income equality and a life of choice, single parents and so on, and what I want to voice is the understanding that reproductive rights, whether that is freedom to choose abortion or freedom to choose to have a baby, needs to include support and advocacy for all human rights, if an organization such as Options is going to advertise solutions for crisis pregnancies.
Let’s look at real circumstances such as women in domestically violent relationships, unsafe homes, women with no extended family or community support, single working women, women with chronic health issues, mental health or disabilities. How would choosing to have a baby in these circumstances realistically affect the basic needs for survival and can a child receive the necessary safety, security and nurture needed for long-term thriving growth and development?
When Options advocates anti-abortion ideology and claims resources, does it include resources to single moms who will be needing to work multiple jobs just to pay her bills and how will she afford the cost of childcare to do so? Does she have access to assist her in leaving an abusive situation? Do they provide access to accurate medical information regarding the health risks of pregnancy and traumatic birth? Are there accessible resources for babies who are born disabled, premature or with other serious life-threatening issues requiring extensive hospital stays, testing, procedures? Will the mother and child have healthcare that covers the cost in full and employment that pays for her leave and allows her to work from home? There are endless scenarios that could display the realities of what a significant population of women with children are experiencing.
We live in a progressive state that legalizes abortion with more access than many locations around the country, but The Commuter is regularly directing students through their advertising to pregnancy resource centers that only provide the early stages of support with minimal testing and biased information that persuasively discourages the choice of abortion and claims “solution.”
I hope The Commuter will consider promoting organizations that provide a more comprehensive awareness and education for those who may be facing the crisis of unexpected pregnancy. There are no easy answers for how to solve the problems of today’s socio-economic challenges, and as a mother, I know both the immense joy and hardship of parenthood, and with that knowledge I believe we deserve support that is truly supportive, allowing a woman to make a conscious decision based on the dynamic reality of her life, rather than fear mongering or feel-good ideals.
Hannah King
As a 36-year-old student and mother of two, I’m deeply concerned about the acceptance of the Options (a crisis pregnancy center or CPC) paid advertisement, while options such as Planned Parenthood are not in our school newsletter.
My concern isn’t about abstract ideals. I’ve dealt with reproductive healthcare as a teen in the early 2000s, experienced childbirth twice, and endured a molar pregnancy that did end up requiring medical attention. From personal experience, I understand the critical importance of having complete and accurate health information when making decisions about pregnancy.
The CPC advertised in our newsletter claims to provide “unbiased conversation,” yet clearly states that they “don’t perform or refer for abortions.” What is more concerning is they promote scientifically unsupported claims about “abortion pill reversal” that medical experts have deemed unsafe and experimental. They provide graphic details about abortion procedures and potential risks but fail to mention any risks or side effects of their promoted “abortion reversal” treatment, a striking double standard that reveals they truly aren’t that “unbiased.”
If my child needed guidance during an unplanned pregnancy and contacted this CPC, they would receive incomplete information.
Additionally, since CPC’s aren’t bound by medical privacy laws like HIPAA, their personal information could be shared with third parties. This is especially concerning given the current political climate in our country.
One might think an institution committed to evidence-based education, such as LBCC, would apply the same to what they advertised. Don’t we as students deserve access to complete, factual information about our healthcare options without bias, omission, or the fear that our private information will be sold or given away without our knowledge?
Some might think this is a political stance, but it’s about protecting student’s rights to make informed decisions about their own bodies based on complete and accurate information.
Sam Games
Crisis pregnancy centers — like the Options Pregnancy Resource Centers — are deeply problematic. They present themselves as places of support, but in reality, they use misleading tactics to push an anti-abortion agenda.
One of their main strategies is fear-mongering. They go into extreme detail about every possible complication of abortion while conveniently ignoring the risks of pregnancy. The irony? Many of those same complications apply to childbirth as well.
Instead of offering accurate, unbiased information, they spread falsehoods about abortion laws and medical risks, making it harder for people to make informed decisions.
Many CPC staff members are not medically trained, yet they offer advice that should only come from qualified professionals. On top of that, because these centers aren’t properly regulated, they don’t have to follow privacy laws, putting sensitive personal information at risk. They also tend to set up shop in areas where access to real reproductive healthcare is already limited, targeting the most vulnerable.
If you’re looking for accurate, supportive information and resources, check out Planned Parenthood. They offer over 50 classes on a variety of topics through their Sex Ed To-Go program, for free, on their website. It’s a great resource for anyone seeking comprehensive sex education.
I hope this information helps someone make an informed choice that’s right for them.
By Chelsey Baldwin
Imagine someone tried to take away your right to control what you do with your body. What comes to mind? Are they forcing you to donate blood or a kidney? Are they insisting you do difficult physical labor with no pay? Are they demanding that you sacrifice your life for theirs?
These examples all sound ridiculous, and that’s because they are. There is no way that they could claim any right to your body in these circumstances. In these situations, it is up to you to choose; you get bodily autonomy.
Now, imagine you get home from a long day at school, and you notice something is off. You find out that you are pregnant. You are scared and start freaking out. It isn’t the right time to have a kid. You’re in college, you’re struggling to pay rent, and the person that got you pregnant isn’t in your life anymore. You research your choices and, due to an advertisement in LBCC’s Commuter, end up talking to someone at a crisis pregnancy center like Options Pregnancy Resource Center in Albany. It seems like a legit operation at first; the staff is friendly, and they have lots of information about what you can do.
But then, they begin trying to talk you out of an abortion. You were sure of yourself, and you know it’s not the right time for a kid in your life, but they keep talking about adoption or parenting.
Options is one of many crisis pregnancy centers, or CPC’s. CPC’s are not legitimate medical centers, and they all have the same hidden agenda. Their goal is to talk you out of an abortion. They do this by drawing you in with deceptive tactics and lying to you about medical information. They might make it seem like abortion is unnecessary, risky, or dangerous. CPC’s are misleading organizations that try to take away your right to choose.
Everyone with the capacity for pregnancy has the right to choose if and when they have
a child, and the circumstances in which they have that child. For real facts about pregnancy, parenthood, birth control, and abortion, Planned Parenthood is a great resource.
-Aubrey McLain
After reviewing and learning more about what these “clinics” are, I would like to ask Options, and other CPC’s, to really think about what they are doing.
I am pro-choice. I would personally not get an abortion, but that does not mean other people shouldn’t be allowed to. Some people can’t afford to raise themselves let alone a child. I think that instead of pushing just the option of adoption, they should include all options available to a newly pregnant person, including the option of abortion to those who don’t want to go through the traumatic experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
I am thinking about how many people who are not able to access a safe abortion could suffer or even die from a dangerous pregnancy or a dangerous and unsafe abortion. What I’ve noticed from current events is that some people don’t care about saving babies, they care about controlling women’s bodies. If we cared about actually saving babies, we would care about those PEOPLE who were once babies and need help now.
I think that CPC’s like Options are ridiculous for trying to guilt people into not getting an abortion. Making those who are pregnant feel ashamed of even thinking of abortion as an option is harmful and outrageous. We know what this is really about and it needs to stop. If you don’t think this is political, take another look, because personal is now political.
-Kimberly Ross
Editor’s note: The Commuter notified Options Pregnancy Resource Centers about these letters before publication and offered them an opportunity to respond. Options declined and chose not to advertise in this edition.
Letters originally appeared in the May 2025 edition of The Commuter.
