In many ways, the Claremont Colleges truly live up to being a residential community. With our own bookstore, movie theaters, several places where we can get food and even clothes, Claremont students don’t need to wander far to get many necessary items and services. Most people would agree that adequate health services are a crucial part of a college community.

Student opinions of Baxter Health Center are frequently overwhelmingly negative. This dissatisfaction prompted last year’s ASPC Senate to conduct a 5-College survey regarding student experiences with Baxter. This, along with the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), seemed to show that the efforts to improve Baxter services were heading in a positive direction. Yet, almost three months into the school year, problems still abound.

The system of costs associated with visiting Baxter is unreasonable. Even though we are strongly required to purchase health insurance before coming to Pomona, health insurance is not accepted at Baxter. (Students can pay out of their own pocket and then hope to get reimbursed through their insurance.) It might seem petty to quibble over money spent on health costs, especially in a community where many of the students are affluent, but costs can add up for students who are on financial aid. Not only are the costs of x-rays and blood tests high, but even more annoying are the $10 charges for missing an appointment or for failing to make an appointment and having to walk-in. Baxter is open late only one night out of the week--the staff should realize that students have chaotic schedules and need expanded hours.

There are also problems in the disparity in how Baxter doctors handle common student complaints. Even though two students earlier this semester went in for the same cold, one of them was sent away with instructions to buy some over-the-counter cold and cough medicine, while the other was given Vicodin to help with her cough. Clearly, something is wrong in that situation.

One of the most troubling–yet frequent–criticisms about Baxter comes from female students. In last year’s survey, several female students told of going into Baxter complaining of headaches or colds, and then being asked about their sexual history and given pregnancy tests. A junior at Pomona College went in to Baxter, thinking she was coming down with the flu. The male doctor persisted in asking her about her last sexual encounter, and whether or not she was taking birth-control pills. The doctor repeatedly told her "it would be a really good idea" for her to be on birth control, and even volunteered to use Baxter’s computer database to find a birth-control pill that would be compatible with her other medication.

Obviously, we’re incredibly lucky that, unlike many Americans, we have relatively convenient access to health care. And some of the staff at Baxter are much better than the rest. Yet, for a community that always strives to be excellent in all respects, we should seriously consider focusing once again on the issue of how Baxter and its health services could be improved.