top of page

Pro-Life Table Provokes Student Discourse

Story and Photos by Alex Del Cueto


Part of Students for Life’s table display that included the stages of a fetus and free merchandise.


On Oct 22, a pro-life organization, Students for Life, set up an informational table and displayed it on the Great Lawn.


New York representatives, Savannah Craven and Penelope Rose, came to Purchase at 11 a.m. and stayed until 2 p.m.

 

The display they had is called “Defund Planned Parenthood.” It consisted of a set of pink crosses used to represent the number of abortions Planned Parenthood does per day.


“We’re out here trying to educate people about what Planned Parenthood actually does, which is abortions,” said Craven. “That’s pretty much all they do.”


The “Defund Planned Parenthood” display set up behind a group of students who formed at the display.


Many students were not made aware of this display being set up on campus. However, both Purchase College and the University Police Department were aware of and approved of the event, according to Police Officer Gerardo Conti, who was stationed nearby.


As classes began to let out, more students began to walk by the table, which led to a variety of reactions from passersby. Vinny Hunter, a sophomore film major, was appalled by the pro-life group's presence on campus.

 

“I think it’s fucking disgusting and indicative of the politics of the college,” said Hunter. “They can protest something that isn’t real; fetuses aren’t alive; this isn’t murder.”


In order to show his disapproval for the group's presence on campus, Hunter attempted to burn one of the crosses from the Student for Life’s display as a form of protest.


Hunter attempted to burn one of the pink crosses that he took from the display.


Several students had problems specifically with the message of the “Defund Planned Parenthood” display. Sumi Saahir, a freshman acting major, worked at Planned Parenthood before coming to Purchase.


“She was saying they don’t do other stuff besides abortion,” said Saahir. “There are a bunch of statistics to prove against that.”


Kat Tobits, a senior theater and performance major, has received a variety of healthcare from Planned Parenthood. “I was able to get my STD tested and I was able to get my birth control at a really low cost,” said Tobits.


Planned Parenthood had a club at Purchase, but it is unknown whether they are still operating as of this event. 


Sumi Saahir posed confused next to one of Student for Life’s signs.


Over 40 students stopped by the table to see what they were saying and to express their opinions to Students for Life. As the event wrapped up, a heated discussion began between several students passing by and Craven.

 

The students were confused by Students for Life’s choice to come to Purchase as this is known to be a liberal school. But Students for Life were adamant in their stance on being here.


The back of Craven’s shirt that reads the future is Anti-Abortion.


“We’ve planted so many seeds among students at this school,” said Craven. "I'm so grateful that we’re able to come here.”


Throughout the event, a small peaceful protest was started by Faye Hept, who was later joined by Lucia Vysohlid. Many students stopped to show these students support as well as to tell them they’re doing the right thing.


Faye Hept (left) holding a sign that says “My Body, My Choice” and Lucia Vysohlid (right) holding a sign saying “Donate to Planned Parenthood.”


“In order to de-stigmatize women's bodily autonomy we mustn’t pay the people's mind,” said protestor Hept. “Donate to Planned Parenthood.”


138 views

Comments


Contact
Editor-in-chief: Jennifer Ward
jennifer.ward@purchase.edu
Digital Managing Editor: Arlenis Marmolejos
arlenis.marmolejos@purchase.edu
Faculty Advisor: Donna Cornachio
donna.cornachio@purchase.edu
 
General Contact
purchasecollegephoenix@gmail.com

PSGA Bylaws (August 2018), Student Bill of Rights, Section B. Freedom of Speech, Press and Inquiry


Neither the student government nor any faculty or administrative person or board shall make a rule or regulation or take any action which abridges students’ freedom of speech, press or inquiry, as guaranteed Constitutional rights as citizens of the United States. Students of the campus are guaranteed:

  1. the right to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them, and to express opinion privately and publicly;

  2. the right to learn in the spirit of free inquiry;

  3. the right to be informed of the purposes of all research in which they are expected or encouraged to participate either as subject or researcher;

  4. the right to freedom from censorship in campus newspapers and other media

© 2023 by Digital Marketing. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page