By Shannon Doran
Last Wednesday was a time of reflection as well as a time tolook to the future as students gathered in the Red Barn tocommemorate the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Therewere a wide variety of brochures awaiting the students when theyarrived to inform them on how to lead healthier lives, treat STDs,make responsible choices, and even how to prevent pregnancies.Senior English major Kate Walsh, English masters student JessicaFarquhar, and Laura Goldsmith of the organization VOX: Voices forPlanned Parenthood managed the free coffee station and encouragedeveryone to take free condoms and practice safe sex. Buttons andstickers were also distributed to support the 30th anniversary.
Before the lunch rush, Farquhar took out time to express hermind: “I am here to celebrate the women’s right to choose anddisseminate information about family planning.” She is trying tokeep a woman’s right to choose alive by having students and facultysign two different letters. One is addressed to President Bush,asking that he “remember the call for unity you made during yourpresidential campaign” and “nominate only those persons [for theSupreme Court] who will affirm a women’s right to make her ownchildbearing choices.” The other is to Representative Ken Lucas inhopes that he will help support women’s rights and their privacy.This letter requests that Lucas “reaffirm your commitment to Roe v.Wade and support programs and legislation that can best protectreproductive freedom?” Students did not only sign these letters;faculty showed their support as well.
Dr. Tom Byers of the English department showed his support byraising a little money for Planned Parenthood Federation ofAmerica, Inc. Prior to his departure, he had the students come upwith as much money they could in about a five-minute span and thendoubled it and handed it over to Farquhar. This excited all of theparticipants and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Planned Parenthood is hosting an online rally January 14-28 atwww.saveroe.com. This rally is directed toward finding moresupporters of the Roe v. Wade decision and convincing thegovernment to stand behind the decision. At this website, you willfind an informative video and a petition to sign. The last line ofthe petition reads, “We, the undersigned, join with PlannedParenthood and call on President Bush to stop his war on women andto abandon his efforts to deny people the right and means to makeresponsible choices about their reproductive lives.”
If you would like to make a donation or learn more about PlannedParenthood and how they can help you, visit their website atwww.plannedparenthood.org or call the Louisville division at502-966-5510 or 502-584-2471. For 24-hour assistance, calltoll-free at 1-800-230-PLAN.
