The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Nonprescription Drugs and Reproductive Health Drugs advisory committee considered last December switching the status of emergency contraceptives from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC) in an application called Plan B.

Under pressure from the White House and Congress, the FDA chose to delay for 90 days its decision to allow emergency contraception to be sold over the counter, and there should be a decision in May 2004.

The committee voted by an overwhelming majority to endorse the sale of emergency contraception over the counter. The committee's approval of levonorgestrel, the so-called "morning-after pill," established confidence in emergency contraception. Although there is much public and scientific support for the use of OTC emergency contraceptive pills, there is also speculation as to whether or not Plan B will be approved.

Stephen King, public affairs specialist for the FDA said in an e-mail message, "The FDA has not made a final determination at this time to approve levonorgestrel's OTC status."

The 90-day delay resulted after 49 members of Congress objected to the committee's conclusion on opening OTC sales. Controversy over whether the pill is being evaluated fairly during an election year has sparked debates.

A coalition of conservative lawmakers, led by Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is urging the Bush administration to reject the move, arguing that easier access to emergency contraception will increase unsafe sex, particularly among teenagers.

Some believe the review of Plan B has been influenced more by religion and abortion policy than the scientific value.

Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services, said that emergency contraception is a safe alternative in cases where other methods of contraception are thwarted.

"Plan B has been quite thoroughly reviewed. In my opinion, it is safe and effective," Spear said. "UHS prescribes the pill quite frequently, and if it is passed, it is likely that we will have it available over the counter."

Spear doubts, however, that the emergency contraceptive pill will be abused if this happens. "I think it will be used much as it is used now -- only in the case of emergencies and where there has been some form of other contraceptive failure," she said.

She added that if the FDA does approve it for OTC availability, there will be fewer barriers for women who were unable to get the pill through a prescription. "Our experience has been that women use it very responsibly."

To date, there are many women's health and medical associations working to endorse Plan B. NARAL Pro-Choice America is an active organization that not only endorses Plan B but also urges visitors online to address the FDA via e-mail in support of the application. Other organizations, including the National Women's Health Network, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and Back Up Your Birth Control, support the proposal in similar ways by reaching out to women and medical organizations to advocate Plan B.

Despite the FDA's indecision, several states throughout the nation are taking action. The Illinois House Health Care Availability and Access Committee is just one of many that decided last month to allow the emergency contraceptive pill to be sold without a prescription. The only difference between this initiative and the proposal that the FDA is reviewing is that Plan B requests the pills be available on drugstore shelves, whereas the states' committees are only allowing them to be sold behind pharmacy counters.

Some students on campus said they are aware of the emergency contraceptive pill's availability and other birth control options. Emily Volpini (freshman-hotel, institutional and restaurant management) voiced her opinion on the Plan B proposal. "I think they should be sold over-the-counter because it's a good way to prevent teen pregnancies," Volpini said.

Steve Ayer (freshman-architectural engineering) agreed with Plan B as long as women do not abuse the OTC pill. "I personally don't ever have to worry about it, and I'm glad I don't. But if I were in someone else's shoes, I'd want to have the option. As long as it isn't used on a regular basis, and other sources of birth control are used, I think it should definitely be legal," Ayer said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.