For Immediate Release
October 5th, 2009
Abortion Event Censured by Students' Society of McGill University
Student Union Threatens Club with Defunding for Hosting Event
A controversial pro-life presentation will continue tomorrow at McGill University, despite the student union's attempt to censor it.
The Students Society of McGill University (SSMU) voted 25-2-2 to censure an event entitled "Echoes of the Holocaust" at their meeting last Thursday, October 1st. The event, scheduled for tomorrow, October 6th, has been organized by Choose Life, a pro-life club on campus, and will carry on as planned.
The presentation, hosted by a university-sanctioned club, Choose Life, is to be given by Jose Ruba of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. His presentation, titled, "Echoes of the Holocaust" outlines how societies have justified and perpetuated great atrocities, including the Holocaust and abortion.
Natalie Fohl, president of Choose Life says, "The Holocaust was a major affront to the dignity of the human person, and resulted in a horrific loss of life. Choose Life, through this event, fully recognizes that reality. Moreover, we recognize that abortion is also an affront to the dignity of the human person, and that the denial of personhood to the unborn is unjust and arbitrary."
At the meeting, SSMU Councillors accused Ruba of comparing women who have had abortions to Nazis and therefore violating their Constitution and Equity Policy. The speaker has clearly stated, however, that he does not make this comparison.
Though the students' society cannot directly stop the event, they have promised to punish the club for hosting the presentation. The motion passed was amended to include a resolution that by continuing with the event despite the censure, Choose Life will be automatically ineligible for funding from the SSMU for the remainder of its existence.
Ruba has given this talk at a variety of campuses including McMaster University, University of New Brunswick Saint John, St. Francis Xavier University and University of Prince Edward Island. When students tried to shut down the same lecture at St. Mary's University in February 2009, it only resulted in the university being subject to embarrassment in the media for not upholding freedom of speech.
A video of Ruba's presentation and the subsequent protest can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eulKIaVM9DE .
Event Details: Tuesday, October 6th, 6:00PM, McGill University, Leacock 232.
Cowards. How can it be anti-women, if women can and do subscribe to the notion that abortion is wrong?
Feminists do not speak for all women, and feminism does not represent all women.
