Discussion of an abortion memo sent to university employees and the 2021 No Public Funds for Abortion Act were the focuses for ASUI Wednesday.
The memo warned employees of the potential legal ramifications of discussing abortion, leading to potential termination or a charge.
The No Public Funds for Abortion Act was a piece of legislation passed in 2021 that prevents staff and school health clinics from dispensing or telling students where to obtain emergency contraceptives, except for rape.
“Employees who had originally mentioned abortion in their courses will be fearful of ever bringing up (abortion) as we should be concerned about our university employees, our students are also affected,” Sen. Owen Crowley said. “It’s not prohibited for students to write about abortion in an essay, bring it up in the presentation, create a project about abortion, (but) instructors will not want to handle that subject with the fear of further punishments.”
The goal of the resolution is not about a pro-life or pro-choice stance, but is regarding censorship.
Senate Pro Tempor Martha Smith said that the main goal of the resolution was freedom of speech.
“The reason we decided to go that route is the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the implications that come with that are a huge scope of influence, and in my opinion, there’s not a lot that I can do specifically on that,” Smith said. “However, our scope of influences as ASUI has a lot more to do with student voices, things that are directly happening to students and having the stipulations on professors and people who work with the university directly impact students.”
Vice President Madison Fitzgerald also spoke on the resolution focusing on First Amendment right.
“I think no matter where you live politically on the spectrum, we can all agree that our freedom of speech is being violated with that memo being sent out,” Madison said.
Madison was concerned about the legal trouble employees could face.
“I believe that rhetoric. I strongly discourage it. I think that professors and advisors and faculty alike should be able to perform their tasks,” Fitzgerald said. “They were hired because of their credentials and because that they’re qualified to do this, and they should not be restricted in any way, shape, or form to teach their class.”
Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @DVR_Tweets
Ron Gardner
I just wanted to point out a couple of things that jumped off the page at me as I read your article. In the fifth paragraph there is the first mention of a resolution and it made me immediately go back to start reading again from the top because I didn't recall seeing anything about a resolution. In my mind a voice was asking, "what resolution?" The second thing is the beginning of the eleventh paragraph, "I believe that rhetoric. I strongly discourage it." ? I think there is something missing there. :)