Advocacy in Action: Layla Harmon and the Fight for Emergency Contraceptive Awareness at LSU
February 19, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA – Layla Harmon is a familiar face—one synonymous with tireless advocacy and a passion for making the world a better place. In the fall she hosted a transformative presentation at the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, sparking discussions on emergency contraceptive (EC) knowledge within the LSU community.
An Ogden Honors senior studying political communication, Harmon is no stranger to getting involved. She is a member of student organizations Geaux Vote and Feminists in Action (FIA), in which she has held multiple leadership roles, and also does work for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana and the LSU Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs.
Harmon's dedication to reproductive health advocacy gained momentum when she and FIA secured and distributed more than 1,200 units of EC—worth over $60,000—for free at a tabling drive in Free Speech Alley. This initiative underscored the interest and demand for EC access on campus.
It was during her internship at the Reilly Center that Harmon crossed paths with Adjunct Instructor Alyson Neel, who was in the process of developing a survey to assess EC knowledge at LSU. Recognizing a shared mission, the two collaborated on a study that would later be reviewed by multiple health organizations, including the LSU Student Health Center. The survey was distributed across 28 classes and gathered 665 responses, revealing both a general awareness of EC and significant gaps in understanding.
“A big thing with Feminists in Action, and I think this is where Aly and I connected on, was that we were trying to figure out how to meet students where they are, but it's hard to know where to meet them if we don't know where they are,” Harmon said.
A semester later the pair put together a survey that was reviewed by a variety of health organizations including the LSU Student Health Center, and distributed to 28 total classes. The results from the 665 responses revealed a general knowledge of EC and where it can be accessed, but also some critical misunderstandings.
For instance, the study found that most students believed you had to be above a certain age to use EC, and that a substantial portion of students thought that it is illegal in Louisiana, both of which are untrue. In addition, students reported several major barriers they saw as limiting EC access, and expressed broad support for measures designed to increase its availability.
With the results in hand, the team was eager to present their findings. However, heightened national political tensions surrounding reproductive health made it difficult to secure supportive partners and, ultimately, a venue for the event.
Throughout Harmon’s time at LSU, the Ogden Honors College has remained a steadfast source of support, fostering her curiosity and courage to address pressing issues. When the team reached out, the Honors College leadership was more than willing to step in as an official partner.
The event, titled “Let’s Talk About EC, Baby: Understanding & Improving Access to Emergency Contraception On College Campuses,” went off without a hitch and was presented by Neel with Harmon, Xavier University’s Christina Anderson, LSU Health Sciences Center’s Neelima Sukhavasi and LSU Student Health Center’s Rebeca Breaux featuring as co-panelists.
For Harmon, the event marked yet another meaningful chapter in her journey with the Honors College, which she credits with fueling her passion for research, advocacy, and public service.
“The Honors College has encouraged me to ask questions and to seek out answers to those questions through things like research and public service, which I'm incredibly grateful for,” Harmon said. A big part of that, she mentioned, was her involvement as one of the college’s Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Scholars.
Designed to prepare Honors College students for leadership roles in Louisiana in the fields of public service, social justice and environmental sustainability, the LASAL program, newly minted as an undergraduate minor, includes coursework, seminars, internship opportunities and more all in service of its mission.
“I feel like being a LASAL Scholar and focusing on Louisiana issues in general has reconnected me a lot with Louisiana, which I'm incredibly grateful for, and [for] having that community of folks who are also interested in public service, in Louisiana in particular,” Harmon said.
As for what the future holds for Harmon, she envisions working in the political communications field, considering it even as a route of graduate study. But wherever she goes, she is sure to take the experiences at LSU and the Honors College with her.
“I have a lot to thank of the Honors College for connecting me to these life-changing experiences, mentors and also some of my closest friends.”
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Contact: Jordyn Martin
Communications Manager
225-578-0083
jwarr28@lsu.edu
