Students Address Abortion With Flag Display

Students, Teachers, React to McKeldin

NEWS

By Sara BLUMBERG

The Terrapin Times Staff Writer

           A display of 4,000 blue and pink flags decorated the field of McKeldin Library, serving as a picture of the number of pregnancies terminated every day.

            Members of the Maryland organization Students for Life organized the “cemetery” demonstration on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in an attempt to educate others on the reality of abortion.

            “The question is not one of choice, but rather what is the unborn,” said student activist Matt Elkins.

            The event, which used the provocative tactics to get students’ attention, focused on getting people to reflect on and talk about the termination of pregnancies. “We want people to talk about this and get over the strong apathy they have,” said Elkins.

            In addition, the affair was also set-up to promote the ideals of the Students for Life organization, which include presenting to others the idea that a baby is a gift, not a choice.

            With the sunless weather adding an extra sense of dreariness to the cemetery, the advocates, starting at 5:30 in the morning, spent the day chalking the sidewalks and handing out information cards.

            According to their information, 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in abortion. On top of that, 1.2 million pregnancies will be terminated every year, a number that is slowly increasing.

            “I love when people take the information, I feel like we are getting through,” said Student for Life President Sierra Correa.

            Even with amounts of information, the demonstration was greeted with mixed encouragement. During the course of the afternoon, one student shouted, “How many mothers did you kill today?” causing many protestors to turn their heads. 

            “It makes me feel sad when someone doesn’t understand, I wish they would take the time to talk to us for just a minute,” said Pat Yungwirth, a sophomore club member and history major.

            While many students chose to quietly ignore the demonstration all together, some pro-abortion advocates were seen picking up the flags, showing their disagreement with what the cemetery stood for. 

            On the other hand, while people might not have agreed with the message behind the display, many spectators felt compelled to talk with the club members and share their views on the subject. Linguistics professor Ivano Caponigro was curious to know what pro-lifers thought about the liberties of women. “I think people that call themselves pro-life forget the needs and rights of a woman.  It’s a complex issue and I think we should first look at why she wants to have an abortion,” he said.

Also, pro-abortion advocates like junior Megan McGilloway said, “I’m pro-choice. I have always felt passionately about my body-I was very happy with the debate.  It was civil, not radical.”

            One common misconception about the Students for Life organization is the idea that religion has helped influence their cause.  Club representatives, however, say they stick by a totally secular policy.  “If you [diversify] your argument to much, you detract from the issue at hand,” said Matthew Melkins.

            Realizing that abortion is a sensitive subject for many, the organization was started on campus in August of 2003 not to harass and criticize the beliefs of some members of the student body, but to make them open up to new ideas.

            “We don’t want people to think we are forcing them not to hurt women, we understand women need help too,” said Correa.

            Sophomore and special education major Regina Petclo said, “If people aren’t  being educated, they don’t see how common [abortion] is.”

            The club consists of about 40 active members who are working to promote the ideas of the pro-life movement. According to Correa, “They are the most passionate people I have ever worked with.”