State College Medical Services (SCMS) may be out of sight, but it's certainly not out of mind.

After a long dispute with the landlord, the only health clinic in Centre County performing elective abortions was evicted from its location at 477 E. Beaver Ave. in August.

Although officials from SCMS said it would reopen in State College in the fall, such action has yet to be taken.

Since there is no clinic performing abortions in State College, women who wish to terminate their pregnancies must go elsewhere for the procedure. The closest physician performing abortions is located in Harrisburg, said Dr. Joanne Tosti-Vasey, a member of the National Organization for Women and Centre Countians for Choice.

The distance to the nearest abortion clinic does not necessarily affect the number of abortions State College women get, even if it is harder, Tosti-Vasey said.

"Women will find ways to get the services they need," she added.

Tosti-Vasey did not know of any efforts to reopen SCMS or a similar clinic.

She said she would like a clinic to open in town as long as it is safe.

"My belief is that you need a clinic that has been endorsed by a professional organization," Tosti-Vasey said

She said when an organization endorses a clinic, it makes sure they are safe, clean, legal, women are treated fairly and there are no legal problems.

Two organizations that endorse abortion clinics are Planned Parenthood Federation of America and National Abortion Federation.

Susan Rogacs, the State College president for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, said she had not heard of another abortion clinic opening in Centre County.

Dr. Steve Brigham, who headed SCMS, has a long history of legal problems.

He lost his license to practice medicine in New York and Georgia, agreed not to practice medicine in Pennsylvania, and there are restrictions on his medical license in New Jersey and California.

Brigham has clinics in other parts of Pennsylvania and is trying to open clinics in other states, Rogacs said. She added that people are trying to prevent the opening of new clinics and evict him from his current locations.

Rogacs is also on the board for the Centre County Citizens Concerned for Human Life and said the group is happy with the fact there is no abortion clinic in the county.

Although Planned Parenthood refers its patients to abortion clinics, it cannot perform abortions at its facility in order to receive federal funding, Rogacs said.

Dawn McKee, education and outreach coordinator of the Centre County Women's Resources Center, and Paula Nossek, office manager of Planned Parenthood, said they did not know of any efforts to open another abortion clinic in State College.

The Penn State Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is concerned with the distance to the nearest abortion clinic, said president Beth Golden.

"It's unfortunate that students have to go so far," she said.

Golden also said there is a lack of other medical services to assist women who cannot afford contraception in the area.