KRT PhotoAs the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision approaches, Washington University students continue to grapple with the difficult issues raised by the case, which legalized abortion. However, despite the highly emotional nature of the debate, WU students maintain respect for others.
Both Erika Sabbath, president of Students for Choice, and Chris DiGenova, president of Students for Life, speak of promoting their causes by joining other WU students in visiting reproductive health and abortion clinics. Although they are on opposite sides of the issue, Sabbath and DiGenova agree in their disapproval of protesters who hope to intimidate women away from the procedure.
Sabbath explained that she and approximately 40 other WU students participate as trained escorts in helping women from their cars into a clinic. This supports women by providing a “counter-point presence” against the protesters.
Before beginning at the clinic, all escorts are first educated about women’s reproductive rights, potential clinic violence, and what they can and cannot do in the escort situations. For the escorts’ personal safety, they are never addressed by name at a clinic site, and they are under complete confidentiality agreements. Moreover, guards are always on the premises for general protection.
“I think the most active way to be pro-choice is by actively bringing your support to these women. Our presence helps them get through that little space [from the car to the clinic door] and make it a little easier,” said Sabbath.
The Hope clinic has become a particularly important site for this escort program, and Sabbath welcomes all who may be interested in helping.
DiGenova also said that it can be rewarding to work with women entering a clinic, but emphasized that pro-life activists at clinics ought to also stress education and tact.
“There are people who are trained in sidewalk counseling… but others just yell ‘You’re going to hell!’ or ‘You’re murdering your baby!’ and that’s just going to upset people and make them more defiant. We wish just as much as they [pro-choice proponents and women seeking abortions] do that people will stop yelling.
“On the other hand, there are people who know what they’re doing and take them to Birthright to help them see how they can have a child although they thought it was out of their means. The single greatest experience a pro-lifer can have [is knowing] that they’ve just saved a life,” said DiGenova.
Despite continued pro-life efforts, DiGenova does not anticipate a rapid reversal of Roe v. Wade.
“We’re a long way from making every abortion illegal. Public opinion needs to sway a lot more to our side. If opinions were swayed, illegal abortions would not even be an issue,” said DiGenova.
Again in agreement, both presidents perceive WU to be more in favor of continued choice.
“I think that even if a lot of people are anti-abortion personally, they’re still pro-choice for others,” said Sabbath
Juniors Gloria Chiu and Casey Harger support this view.
“According to Catholicism, it’s bad, but I’m never going to be put in the position where I’d have to choose. I think guys in general shouldn’t have as strong a voice because they’ll never have that problem,” said Harger, a Catholic.
Chiu agreed, explaining that she would not allow her personal religion to dictate choices for others. In fact, she fears a reversal of Roe v. Wade because it could lead women back to seeking unsafe, illegal abortions.
“I will never buy wire coat hangers because it’s scary knowing what people have resorted to,” said Chiu.
Sabbath emphasized that the option of obtaining a safe abortion provides a basis for her role in the pro-choice movement.
“Everyone needs to make their own decision as to what’s best for them. All possible options need to be available safely and legally whether it’s abortion or adoption or keeping the baby. It’s not my position to decide for others. Pro-choice is not advocating any option over any other,” said Sabbath.
In contrast, DiGenova argued that there is no such thing as a “safe” abortion.
“If an abortion procedure goes correctly, someone is going to die, and that’s not a safe medical procedure from my perspective,” said DiGenova.