Before Roe: The University of Michigan’s Task Force for Problem Pregnancy Counseling

Abstract

In May of 2022, following the leak of a draft opinion for the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine convened a working group to prepare for the possible return of enforcement of Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban. “Before Roe: The University of Michigan’s Task Force for Problem Pregnancy Counseling” joins that effort by exploring how the University of Michigan supported students, faculty, and staff seeking abortion care before the legalization of abortion in the state. After New York reformed its abortion laws in 1970, the University of Michigan referred women to New York abortion clinics to access safe and affordable care. The pre-Roe University of Michigan Task Force for Problem Pregnancy Counseling would eventually work to evaluate and improve the conditions of abortion clinics in both New York and the southeast Michigan area. The Task Force was organized by counselors within the University’s Office of Religious Affairs in collaboration with a nationwide network of clergy providing abortion counseling and referrals to women experiencing “problem pregnancies.” This report uses materials from the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library to tell the story of university professionals determined to provide essential services to women when few others could. This history models how the University of Michigan can work to ensure the well-being of students, faculty, and staff in the new post-Roe era.