A judge ruled Friday that emergency contraception, often sold under the brand name “Plan B,” should be available to woman of all ages.

Currently, the behind-the-counter pill is only available without a prescription to women 17 and older. According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman described the Food and Drug Administration’s 2011 age restrictions on the pill as “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable” and ordered an end to restrictions within 30 days.
 
The judge has accused President Barack Obama’s administration of putting politics before science by allowing the age restrictions, the AP reported. If the judge’s ruling stands, minors younger than 17 will no longer need parental consent to purchase the drug.
 
“I think it’s an important decision,” said senior Maura Baker, a Women’s and Gender studies major. “In order for (a minor) to get her parents consent, there are so many hoops to jump through. It will allow more agency for making our decisions for our own bodies.”

Junior Rae O’Neill said she thinks most minors would risk becoming pregnant to avoid asking their parents for the “morning-after” pill.

“By the time the parents get involved, it’s between having a child or having an abortion,” O’Neill said.
 
Junior Robert Greber said he agrees with the judge’s recommendation.

“I think it’s a good thing because even though people that young shouldn’t be having sex, they’re also the people who shouldn’t be having kids,” Greber said.
 
Not all students support the proposal.

“I like it how it is now because it makes it harder to take advantage of the pill,” freshman Tyler Romaker said. “… Also, I think STDs would increase because kids would stop protecting themselves against those.”
 
Plan B One Step and its generic versions help to prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, according to the drug’s website. The pill contains higher doses of female progestin hormone, which is in birth control pills. Progestin can prevent ovulation or fertilization of an egg, but it has no effect if a woman is already pregnant.