Even in college, the fight over reproduction rights quietly rages on.
The larger political community has been vocal about Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. And on campus, the issue is just as relevant, particularly with Planned Parenthood Generation Action and Pro-Life LSU, — the two campus clubs most involved with reproductive rights.
Concerns about whether Kavanaugh will help overturn abortion rights, limit Affirmative Action and restrict anti-discrimination laws are among the topics of discussion.
Such is the concern of mass communication senior Jack Stallard, who is the president of the University’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action club.
“We’re concerned about Roe v. Wade. We’re concerned about Obergefell, which is the Supreme Court decision that declared gay marriage the law of the land.We’re concerned about civil rights, whether it’s racial justice or workers’ rights,” Stallard said. “We’re concerned about our individual rights, which all of these things kind of intersect with our own identities, whether it’s womanhood, sexuality, gender [or] race.”
Before Kavanaugh was confirmed, the club spent its time calling senators, including Susan Collins (R-ME), partnering with other groups, writing letters, texting and doing anything possible to get its voice heard. Among the club’s activities including helping to organize and participate in a screening of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Kavanaugh, in which Ford testifies against Kavanaugh at the French House on allegations of sexual assault.
Stallard said the club doesn’t think the FBI probe on Kavanaugh was handled correctly, and said the investigation didn’t interview people that could’ve corroborated claims one way or the other. But with Kavanaugh confirmed, they’re determined to keep moving forward, though they will not be able to make a difference on his decisions on reproductive rights.
“We will definitely be moving ahead trying to make as much noise, or rather not noise, but get our message out as loud and as clear as possible when things are happening, but he’s on the Supreme Court,” Stallard said. “We can’t do much to a Supreme Court Justice. You can’t call them, you can’t be in the same room as them, to really make a case with them.”
The club focuses on promoting reproductive rights and health, along with educating people on sexual health and mobilizing students. They’ve had sex-ed workshops and even political drag. At its table-sits in Free Speech Plaza, its table is covered with a bright pink tablecloth, and they hand out condoms and candy.
This semester, they’ve been focusing more on political activism, trying to get students to vote, which they see as vital, particularly under this administration. Stallard said there was a big increase in club interest after the 2016 Presidential election, and that he’s still looking on the bright side.
“I’m cautiously optimistic, there’s been a lot of good response in terms of action from the left, from Democrats, from center people,” Stallard said. “From really all sides that are kind of against this administration and the things they’re doing. I think there’s a good chance that we’ll see some change, but obviously change is a slow horse and it take a long time for anything to happen.”
Co-president of Pro-Life LSU Madison Casey said change would be slow, though her idea of progress was much different than Stallard’s. Casey, a psychology senior, said the club, while happy with the confirmation of a pro-lifer, wouldn’t be impacted in the short term.
“I don’t see how it affects us that much because a lot of people think that just because he was appointed, Planned Parenthood will be defunded, but that’s not really the case at all,” Casey said. “Having a pro-life person does help our case, but it’s not like he’s appointed [and] instantly Planned Parenthood is defunded. For us as a club, it’s definitely a step forward, we’re happy about it, but I don’t see how it directly impacts us right now.”
Pro-Life LSU, which Casey estimates has around 80 members, focuses on engaging students about abortion, and encouraging women to choose life. Club members advocate outside of abortion clinics in Baton Rouge, as well as baby-supply giveaways and resource tabling in Free Speech Plaza. They also have speakers and group discussions about abortion.
One of their biggest events, which they plan to hold in November, is called “Cemetery of the Innocent,” in which they plant flags and crosses on the Parade Ground representing abortion numbers. Casey says they also do events exposing Planned Parenthood in the spring, but are avoiding inflammatory tactics of the past.
“My freshman year and before that, it was showing more graphic images of abortion,” Casey said. “We really strayed away from that, I don’t think that’s the right approach. We haven’t for years thought that was the right approach. We do still table at Free Speech [Plaza], we talk about the pro-choice and pro-life topics.”
For Casey, the issue most important is abortion. She grew up in a pro-life household and said her own thoughts and research on the issue made her sure she wanted to be an advocate for the pro-life movement. While the club hasn’t discussed Kavanaugh’s confirmation yet, she said she thinks everyone is happy about it.
While she said she hopes the circumstances surrounding his confirmation won’t discourage sexual assault survivors from coming forward, she said she believes he was proven innocent.
“I’m personally happy with how things turned out,” Casey said. “I think it’s fair.”
LSU Pro-Life club sets up posters displaying statistical information about Planned Parenthood to inform passersby on Nov. 13, 2017, on the LSU Parade Ground.
