Protest in the Pergola:
Students Take Sides on the Abortion Issue in Light of the Election
Morgan Wright
Issue date: 11/1/08 Section: News
The Pergola is often referred to as "a symbol of unity," but on Thursday, Nov. 3, it served as the site of a demonstration and counter-protest focusing on abortion rights. Throughout the day, members of the Hood community gathered in and around the Pergola to witness a display posted by Hood's chapter of "Students for Life." The organization held the event from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in which they posted flyers and distributed materials to express their distaste for the abortions that take place in the United States every day. Members of the club were also present throughout the demonstration to talk with inquiring students about their beliefs. Counter-protesters gathered outside of the Pergola with signs expressing their pro-choice sentiments throughout a good portion of the afternoon and early evening.
The flyers posted in the Pergola primarily consisted of pictures of infants printed from the Internet with small quotes featured underneath. Some of the quotes were taken from famous individuals, such as Ronald Reagan, but the "Students for Life" members themselves created many of the messages. Material was also featured on the center benches from various national organizations, such as "Feminists for Life" and the "National Right to Life."
"We wanted to show how many babies are killed every hour by abortion in the United States," remarked Megan Oliver, sophomore and president of the Hood chapter of "Students for Life."
Oliver also commented that her group's demonstration was held on Nov. 3 to influence the upcoming election. Furthermore, she added that her organization made a conscious effort not to include religion in their display because of the negative reception by the student body to a previous act of protest held on the quad two years ago before Oliver attended Hood.
"I think there are better ways to go about this issue than taking a religious standpoint," she said.
In the early afternoon, when counter-protesters were first starting to gather, an incident occurred in which senior Christine Meade removed flyers from the display and set them on fire several yards away from the Pergola. No verbal exchanges occurred between Meade and the "Students for Life" members present at the time, but security was informed and asked to supervise the event until its conclusion.
The flyers posted in the Pergola primarily consisted of pictures of infants printed from the Internet with small quotes featured underneath. Some of the quotes were taken from famous individuals, such as Ronald Reagan, but the "Students for Life" members themselves created many of the messages. Material was also featured on the center benches from various national organizations, such as "Feminists for Life" and the "National Right to Life."
"We wanted to show how many babies are killed every hour by abortion in the United States," remarked Megan Oliver, sophomore and president of the Hood chapter of "Students for Life."
Oliver also commented that her group's demonstration was held on Nov. 3 to influence the upcoming election. Furthermore, she added that her organization made a conscious effort not to include religion in their display because of the negative reception by the student body to a previous act of protest held on the quad two years ago before Oliver attended Hood.
"I think there are better ways to go about this issue than taking a religious standpoint," she said.
In the early afternoon, when counter-protesters were first starting to gather, an incident occurred in which senior Christine Meade removed flyers from the display and set them on fire several yards away from the Pergola. No verbal exchanges occurred between Meade and the "Students for Life" members present at the time, but security was informed and asked to supervise the event until its conclusion.
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