'Anti-choice' group banned at Carleton University

Pro-life groups called similar to racist organizations

Shawn Menard

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

The Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA) has passed a controversial motion to refuse club status, recognition, or funding to any "anti-choice" group or actions in the spaces it controls on campus.

The CUSA executive said religious groups would be free to hold pro-life views as long as they refrained from leafleting, putting up displays or posters advocating removal of a "right to choose" abortion.

Pro-life views are allowed-as long as they respect choice.

CUSA controls a number of common areas on the campus, an information distribution system and other means for communication.

Unrecognized groups could still operate, but would have no public places to meet or publicize their meetings.

CUSA collects mandatory dues from all students.

The motion said abortion was a Charter right based on a woman's right to "life, liberty and security of the person."

The motion deems even arguing for an abortion law as a threat to women's freedom and security on campus.

Sarah Fletcher

CUSA vice president Katy McIntyre put forward the motion following an Oct. 30 debate organized by Carleton's new pro-life group Lifeline after some students had complained of feeling harassed or intimidated.

CUSA president Shawn Menard put forward an amended version of the motion for the Dec. 5 vote. Menard claimed he had received physical threats.

Lifeline president Sarah Fletcher said her group would not condone any such actions and none of the 15 members of Lifeline did so.

About 150 attended the Dec. 5 meeting as the 32 CUSA representatives listened to questions and debate until nearly midnight when the 26-6 vote took place.

Several students said "anti-choice" arguments were analogous to hate speech against women, and "anti-choice" groups were similar to racist groups.

One CUSA representative said, "The fetus is analogous to a parasite."

Defending human rights

"The anti-abortion side is not trying to take away anyone's rights," said Lifeline treasurer Nicholas McLeod. "We are defending what we say are human rights. We are putting forward another idea of what human rights are.

"If you look at most injustices, whether against Jews, natives, or women, the issue always comes down to what are people. The fetus is a person and they have to be respected the same as you, the same as me."

"An idea cannot hurt someone," he said. "Do you think my beliefs are hateful?

"They are not based on hate. They are based on love."

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