Pro-life demonstration on campus sparks debate
Controversy brews ahead of pro-life speaker’s visit to USD
COLIN MULLANEY / ASST. NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA
Photo courtesy of Alyssa Jackson
As the bells of the Immaculata chimed noon on Oct. 21, several members of the USD Republicans Club and its subsidiary, Toreros 4 Life, gathered outside of Maher Hall for an opportunity to table and spread awareness about one of their primary issues of focus: abortion and the pro-life movement. Before their signs and banners were fully set up on display, members of the organization were being heckled and jeered. Many students passing by on their way to class decided to give demonstrators the finger, some taking pictures, and others shouting counter messages and obscenities.
With messages like “Pro-life = True Feminism,” it is easy to understand how the club’s activities might elicit strong reactions. Although abortion has been widely legal in the United States since 1973, when the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, recent legislation like the Texas Heartbeat Act, combined with a majority conservative Supreme Court bench, have called its perpetuity into question.
According to CNBC, the U.S Supreme Court denied petitions by several abortion providers to block enactment of the Texas bill, leading some to fear that Roe v. Wade could be on shaky ground, should another abortion-related case appear before the same Court.
Perceptions that Roe v. Wade is in a precarious state might explain the pro-life movement’s increased activity, as well as heightened reactions by pro-choice students.
USD sophomore, Alyssa Jackson, the Human Dignity Chair for Toreros 4 Life, describes herself as a staunch proponent of the pro-life cause, and says she is all too familiar with negative reactions from those who disagree with her. In some sense, however, Jackson believes that stirring people up is an essential component of starting difficult conversations.
“Growing up conservative in a Democrat state, I constantly had to consider the other side’s opinions as I formulated my own opinions. Many students here [in California] have only been exposed to one side and have never had to consider the other side’s opinions,” Jackson stated. “So that is our main goal today: to get others to consider the other side, the pro-life side of the abortion issue”
Jackson is mindful of the intensity surrounding the issue of abortion and the reasons why others might lean pro-choice.Even if she cannot change their minds, Jackson primarily hopes to ignite thought and discussion through her involvement in the pro-life movement.
“The best question to ask [pro-choice students] would be when life begins, in their opinion. Pro-choice individuals are very divided about this. They often have to think more about the issue when confronted with this question, which is important,” Jackson said.
One such pro-choice student is Jackson’s own roommate, USD sophomore, Kaelyn Faull. Faull is aware and accepting of her roommate’s involvement in the pro-life movement, but respectfully disagrees, citing concerns for the autonomy of women.
“It should be the choice of every individual woman to decide what she wants to do with her body and what would be best for her life, and I don’t think that anybody else should get to make that decision but her,” Faull stated.
Faull also recognized the significance of this pinnacle moment in history, regarding the current state of the abortion debate and Roe v. Wade.
“I am definitely concerned that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, because I think that court case was a monumental moment for women’s rights and having it taken away seems like a huge step backwards. Also, outlawing abortions will not make them stop, it will just make them so much more dangerous for the woman who still decides to go through with that,” Faull expressed.
In addition to demonstrations like last Thursday, Toreros 4 Life has plans for more events and opportunities for discussion. On Nov. 11, USD Republicans will be hosting speaker, Kristan Hawkins, founder and director of Students for Life.
Although Faull does not align herself with the message, she recognizes the value of engaging in an open dialogue.
“I personally don’t see any problem with having a pro-life speaker on campus. I feel like an important part of a healthy campus environment is being able to have these conversations with people you might not necessarily agree with, as long as we are able to be respectful and understanding of the other person. Although I am sure there are many people who will be very upset to see that we are having a pro-life speaker here, which is really the only thing that worries me about it,” Faull said.
USD, like any other community, contains a wide variety of thoughts and opinions regarding current issues and their implications. Despite these differences, it remains possible for students to engage in dialogue and compromise, as demonstrated by Jackson and Faull.
Although conflicts will inevitably arise over values and public policy, methods of engaging the other side, such as the Toreros 4 Life tabeling, do not inherently have to take on an uncivil form of discourse.