Preserve women's right to choose
Sonja Franeta, Meryl Siegal, Margaret Traylor, Amy Bohorquez, Alex Cipher, Janine Fujioka
Issue date: 3/18/10 Last update: 3/18/10 at 2:56 AM PST
Section: OpEd
Faculty, staff and students were greeted Monday morning, March 8, International Women's Day, to strangers on the Laney campus quad, who decorated the quad with posters of aborted fetuses on large 8-foot scaffolds and passed out leaflets against a woman's right to choose.
Laney Biology Professor Amy Bohorquez heard one of the anti-choice men say, "'Ask any scientist and they'll tell you that life begins at conception' but actually scientists, especially biologists, don't believe that to be true."
The presence of three men and a young boy leafleting and the disturbing photo posters so upset students that they came to their instructors in tears. Equally upsetting was when members of the anti-choice group started taking pictures of Laney pro-choice activists, faculty, and staff.
When the group came to the quad on Tuesday, they were met by student activists who held up signs protesting anti-choice rhetoric.
"We accept the right of free speech," said Laney classified staff Alex Cipher. "But this is what happened-three men from the anti abortion group walked over to me when I was standing with the protesting group.
One of them called me a baby killer, and they kept photographing me. I told them they needed my permission to be photographed. Then they moved in closer continuing to take more photos. I walked away."
In response to the offensiveness caused on campus by this group, Laney faculty, staff, and students decided to form a group to provide education on the pro-choice movement, and general women's issues. The group's first step will be to meet with administration to minimize the hurtful tactics of anti-choice activists on campus.
During their first discussion on Wednesday, many felt fearful that events such as the one held at Laney on International Women's Day is an attempt to change a woman's right to choose what she can do with her own body, a right granted American women in the 1973 court case Roe v Wade.
Laney Biology Professor Amy Bohorquez heard one of the anti-choice men say, "'Ask any scientist and they'll tell you that life begins at conception' but actually scientists, especially biologists, don't believe that to be true."
The presence of three men and a young boy leafleting and the disturbing photo posters so upset students that they came to their instructors in tears. Equally upsetting was when members of the anti-choice group started taking pictures of Laney pro-choice activists, faculty, and staff.
When the group came to the quad on Tuesday, they were met by student activists who held up signs protesting anti-choice rhetoric.
"We accept the right of free speech," said Laney classified staff Alex Cipher. "But this is what happened-three men from the anti abortion group walked over to me when I was standing with the protesting group.
One of them called me a baby killer, and they kept photographing me. I told them they needed my permission to be photographed. Then they moved in closer continuing to take more photos. I walked away."
In response to the offensiveness caused on campus by this group, Laney faculty, staff, and students decided to form a group to provide education on the pro-choice movement, and general women's issues. The group's first step will be to meet with administration to minimize the hurtful tactics of anti-choice activists on campus.
During their first discussion on Wednesday, many felt fearful that events such as the one held at Laney on International Women's Day is an attempt to change a woman's right to choose what she can do with her own body, a right granted American women in the 1973 court case Roe v Wade.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
mei*
Mei*
posted 3/18/10 @ 11:50 PM PST
I did not see any information about this on campus. I think it would be really great if there was a women's group, for it to be accessible. This is the first I heard. (Continued…)
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