Ms Mearns dismissed these claims, emphasising the inclusive nature of the NAC: "Once the woman has decided we will be of help in any way we can." Anna Sylvester, Vice President of Cambridge University Intercollegiate Christian Union (CICCU), whilst emphasising the diversity of opinion amongst the membership, told TCS last night: "Since Christians believe life is created, most believe life has began at conception, and consequently are opposed to or have reservations about the free use of abortion...many CICCU members do not wish CUSU to be affiliated to the NAC since they fear that the policies supported by them will result in more widespread abortions."
Ms Ismail, however, emphasised that affiliation would allow CUSU to take an active role in shaping NAC policy. In this complex debate, many campaigners have called for significant attention to be devoted to succesful information dissemination before the referendum. "It is imperative that clear information is provided to allow students to make an informed choice," Ms Devlin said. The exact date of the poll and the wording of the question has yet to be decided.
by Christopher Mason
TCS, 15th June 2000
Abortion Vote Gives Birth To Controversy
The battlelines are being drawn in the run up to the CUSU referendum on whether CUSU should affiliate itself to the pro-abortion group, the National Abortion Campaign, to be held on 1 November.
In Spring 2000, CUSU council passed a resolution approving a proposal from the Womens' Campaign, that CUSU should affiliate to the NAC. However, after a concerted effort on the part of the pro-life lobby, the initial decision was reversed by a narrow margin in a second vote. An agreement was reached to put the issue to the student body as a whole.
The "No" campaign incorporates a number of groups, including pro-life, and religious groups. Anna Wilkins addressed a pro-life open meeting at Newnham last night. The aim of the meeting was to clarify the views of those opposed to affiliation. Wilkins argued that "the Student Union cannot take up a position on such a personal issue." She added that affiliation was not about "whether abortion was right or wrong". However pro-life supporters at the mreeting stated that "the whole point is, we're saying abortion is wrong", and called the CUSU policy on abortion, as well as on contraception and LesBiGay issues "offensive".*1
The main concern amongst pro-life supporters at the meeting was that CUSU's strong pro-choice position would force "a self-respecting Muslim or a Christian to have nothing to do with the Student Union." The University Islamic Society has suggested that many Islamic students might "no longer feel represented" by a NAC-affiliated CUSU. The campaigners point to the statement of NAC director*2Janet Mearns, that it is "primarily a campaigning group rather than an advice service*3." They claim that the stance of the vehemently pro-abortion NAC contradicts CUSU's stated policy of "non-directional" advice to pregnant students.
While the CUSU executive is above the fray, its women's campaign has long been affiliated to the NAC. The initial council motion was seconded by Laura Timms, this year's CUSU Women's Officer, who has been mandated to campaign for a "Yes" vote in the referendum on CUSU as a whole. Although affiliation would cost CUSU just £40, she argues this is a case of "putting our money where are mouths are", and that students should be proud to support it." In her view, CUSU's pro-choice stance does not "prescribe a particular view", but is the only way to grant students "the fundamental right to make up their own minds."
At the meeting held last night, Timms read out a statement from the NAC stating their belief that "all counselling should be non-directed." She confirmed that the NAC is opposed to a situation where prejudice against people with disabilities leads to pressure for women to abort abnormal foetuses*4. She also argues that the political dimension of the NAC's campaign would, if successful, have a positive impact on the welfare of women in the university who chose to have an abortion.
The principle of supporting the NAC has prompted passionate dissent, especially in the women's colleges. At New Hall, an open meeting voted 24-0 against the move, while at Newnham the results were 56-26. Other colleges leading the fight against affiliation are Peterhouse and Corpus Christi. However, in other colleges the tide seems to be turning. In particular, King's college Student Union executive decided unanimously not to fund a group called King's Life. Although no group had never previously been denied funding, the comitee considered that the association's activities were not "in the interests of student welfare". Cambridge students have always been in the foreground of political campaigns. The abortion result will be eagerly awaited not just in Cambridge, but on both sides of the national controversy.
by Alex Barden and Robert Jenrick
Varsity, 20th October 2000
* To clarify, one student (not the speaker) at the meeting was challenged whether she finds CUSU's support of contraception, LesBiGay and similar offensive, just as she finds abortion offensive. The reply was "slightly", but she stressed that this is a different issue, irrelevent to the subject, and that she is expressing a personal opinion. We would like to stress that the "No" to affiliation campaign is completely separate to these other issues.
*2 secretary *3 the actual quote ommitted the word 'primarily'
*4 Compare with previous statement "...unless routine screening is offered to all women, and abortion is also offered where tests are positive, then abortion will not 'catch' all fetal abnormality." At the present time, screening for fetal abnormality is aggressively pursued with abortion of the disabled fetus in mind.
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