The Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Clubs At UA Battle It Out Over Amendment 2

TUSCALOOSA—As the 2018 Midterm Elections quickly approach, the battle over Amendment 2 heats up between Bama Students for Life, a Consistent Life Ethics club, and United for Reproductive and Gender Equity, a pro-choice club.

Alabama’s Amendment 2 is a proposed piece of legislation regarding abortion. According to this amendment, state law already exists to protect the rights of unborn children and this amendment will make it so the state must ensure protection of the right to life by not funding abortion through the use of state taxes.

Proposed Amendment: a) This state acknowledges, declares and affirms that it is the public policy of the state to recognize and support the sanctity of the unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life. b) This state further acknowledges, declares and affirms that it is the public policy of this state to ensure the protection of the rights of the unborn child in all manners and measures lawful and appropriate. c) Nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.

Bama Students for Life is a student organization at the University of Alabama that considers themselves to be “Consistent Life Ethic”, which means that they believe all human lives are inherently valuable. They morally oppose abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, and acts of violence like terrorism. United for Reproductive and Gender Equity is a student organization that works to advocate for sexual and reproductive justice on the local, state and national levels. Both organizations feel strongly about Amendment 2, and have been doing everything they can to talk students at the University of Alabama into either voting for or against the legislation.

URGE has been setting up tables around campus nearly every day, passing out info cards to students about the amendment. “Your policy nerds did the reading for you. Here are the basics,” the card reads. They also have a petition that they ask students to sign against the amendment.

In an interview, Gretchen Hedke, the Vice President of Bama Students for Life, said their organization has been setting up tables in the Ferguson Student Center to talk to students about the amendment. “We tabled with the full text of the proposed amendment, making it readily available for anyone to read so that they can make an informed choice when they vote on November 6th.” She said she was disappointed with the way that URGE went about campaigning against the amendment. “URGE does not want an informed student body, because an educated student body will not be convinced by their lies and emotional appeals,” Hedke said.

URGE and BSFL have both also been utilizing the physical campus to spread their messages, with chalk. Students who cross the quad on their daily walks to class have seen the messages written on the sidewalks. “Be Bold, End Hyde,” was one of the messages from URGE. BSFL rebutted the messages with “Hyde Helps Women,” and “Pro Life for All Lives,” among others.

Gretchen Hedke took to the BSFL Facebook to express her frustration with URGE. Hedke said the organization has asked URGE to host a debate with them for the past four years, with no response from them. “URGE will not debate us because their only defense appeals to emotion, asking us why we want to infringe on the rights of women, telling us angrily that it is 'scientific fact' that abortion is not murder because the fetus is not human,” Hedke wrote.

She tagged URGE in the post, writing “We wish we could know where they get their information, so we could then better understand them and correct any misconceptions on either side. But URGE won't speak with us! What is URGE afraid of? The truth. Logic. Empowering women through helping them reach informed decisions and providing them with a loving community and free resources.”

URGE refused an interview but posted on Facebook about the amendment, “Passing Amendment 2 would prevent abortion seekers in Alabama from exercising that right. #RejectAmendment2 #NoExceptionsNoOn2.”

The 2018 Midterm Elections will be held on Nov 6. Students registered in Tuscaloosa can vote at the Student Recreation Center or at any local polling place.