The Campus - February 29, 2007

Anti-abortion display in the quad
by Jessica Jara

Graphic images promoting anti-abortion were exposed in the COS quad by activists who wanted to inform students about the consequences of an abortion.

On February 26 and 27, over 50 activists were on campus handing out flyers and graphics that explained how abortions were performed and the dangers to a woman's body.

Norma Velazquez, a COS student, said that she was not bothered by the graphic posters and that she was glad that COS sponsors this event because she wants other students to look at what an abortion is. "Although this doesn't effect me personally, I find it all very interesting."

Brianna Wilson, who is also a COS student, volunteered this year to hand out flyers about the effects of abortion. "I got involved a few years ago when I went to a retreat called Sanctity for Human Life." Wilson feels that it is necessary that graphic abortion images be exposed to educate the people. "Most of the students have been disgusted by the images but it helps them realize what an abortion does to an unborn life."

COS student Shannen Torres, who is a supporter of Planned Parenthood, was helping out in their booth promoting safe sex. She said that if people were aware of how easy it is to have access to birth control, abortion would not be an option. Volunteers from the Planned Parenthood booth were handing out information on birth control and health care services on campus.

Across the campus, there were warning signs about the explicit images that were being exposed in the quad. Torres said that she was not too happy about those signs. " I don't understand why they have those signs out. If they want to inform people about abortion, they should just say what that want to say and not hide it," Torres had concerns about what the activists were preaching. "It doesn't make sense. If they are anti-abortion, they should be pro birth control," she said.

Jennifer Lopez, who also volunteered in the booth, disagreed with the way the activists were exposing graphic images. "It's all theatrics. They are just trying to shock people to hear them out and bombard them with propaganda," she said. Patsy Montgomery, who is the director for Planned Parenthood, said that she wanted to make students aware of the services they provide and the services provided at the COS Health Center.
"98 percent of what we do is try to prevent abortion," said Montgomery.

COS was the first community college to have Planned Parenthood come on their campus to provide students with their services. There is a nurse and nurse practitioner from Planned Parenthood who are in the Health Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

This event is held every spring semester and is organized by the Giant Christian Fellowship Club.