Panel broaches tough review of abortion

By MAGGIE KARRS

The Students for Life association presented a panel on campus called “Pro-Woman Pro-Life” which offered University of Mary Washington students new thoughts on an old issue. Held Feb. 12 in the Great Hall, the panel was comprised of six speakers who spoke about traditional and non-traditional anti-abortion viewpoints.

Speakers included Kelsey Hazzard, the founder of Secular Pro-Life, and Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, as well as several other members of anti-abortion organizations including the Generation of Life and experts on pro-life viewpoints.

The panel discussed religious, secular and political issues relating to the subject. After all six speakers presented, there was a question and answer session. The audience sent their questions over text message, where they were later read to the panel from the computer.

Students for Life president Julia Wood, a junior geography and history double major, felt that the panel has been successful both years.

“Last year we put on a similar kind of thing, so we wanted to do it again this year because we felt it was successful last year and we wanted to get a wider viewpoint,” said Wood. “It’s a nice way to encourage dialogue.”

Freshman Tyler Barnikel remarked, “I enjoyed the panel very much. I thought the variety of people who had the same view of pro-life coming from different political or religious standpoints was very nice.”

Cierra Biel, a pro-abortion senior, agreed that the panel was informative.

“It was really interesting: I always appreciate hearing different viewpoints,” said Biel. “I am still very pro-choice, but it was really interesting to hear their point of view.”

UMW Students for Life meets Tuesdays at 9 p.m. in Chandler 201.