The 32nd anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade passed Georgetown quietly by on Jan. 22. Interestingly, more was heard from the pro-lifers than from those in support. It makes sense that the opposition would take advantage of the anniversary to demonstrate opinions against legalized abortion, but the pro-choicers especially should utilize the opportunity to commemorate this day.
Whatever the general consensus or religious identity of the campus community may be, a university is the ideal institution to sponsor and encourage discussion. Although Georgetown did not issue an opinion one way or the other toward the upholding of Roe, neither did it recognize the obvious controversy still alive today, over a quarter of a century after a pregnant single woman had the courage to contest the constitutionality of Texas criminal abortion laws.
Considering that other universities across the U.S. including Duke, Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin have hosted events in recent years acknowledging this date’s significance, I can only conclude that it is Georgetown’s Catholic identity that lies at the root of its lack of response to this issue. How long will the fact that Catholic principles oppose the practice of abortion limit our school’s ability to honestly present both sides and create a hospitable atmosphere welcoming healthy debate?
The University does not attempt to hinder student demonstrations, and Red Square is universally recognized as Georgetown’s “free speech zone,” but the administration also has a responsibility to accept reality, rather than to ignore issues. Assistant Vice President of Communications Julie Green Bataille explained that Georgetown’s identity dictates its health care practices.
“The University does not provide birth control or reproductive services to students,” she said. “We do provide educational opportunities and counseling on a range of personal health issues that students can take advantage of.”
English Professor Dana Luciano agreed that institutions occupy an advantageous position to effect change. “One hundred years ago, people would have thought that of course Georgetown would be all-male forever,” she said.
Fellow English Professor and Women’s Studies Director Pamela Fox said, “It would certainly be useful for Georgetown to recognize this landmark event in U.S. history???-as it does many others-by perhaps sponsoring a forum that genuinely explores the multiple issues and positions taken around reproductive rights.”
The issue that we should be discussing is a woman’s right to choose in a world still fraught with the horrors of rape and sexual trafficking, not whether or not it is immoral or evil to terminate the growth of a fetus. After the recent, polarizing presidential election, which has led Americans to realize that the U.S. is far less secular than many believed, it is even more essential for figures in authoritative positions to offer a vocal space to both dissidents and supporters.
