Carleton University Student Council to Ban Pro-Life Groups?

UPDATE:   Anti-abortion groups on notice after CUSA tables policy amendment

Here's the lead from the Carleton University student paper:

Written by Sarah Bockstael   
Thursday, 23 November 2006

Sparks flew during question period at a Nov. 21 Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council meeting after a motion that would prevent pro-life groups from assembling on CUSA space was tabled.

The motion — moved by Katy McIntyre, CUSA vice-president (student services), on behalf of the Womyn’s Centre — would amend the campus discrimination policy to state that “no CUSA resources, space, recognition or funding be allocated for anti-choice purposes.”

The motion was met with resistance from Carleton University Lifeline, a pro-life student organization that was denied CUSA club status at an Oct. 26 council meeting.

The easiest way to slice baloney is thinly.  I'll be cutting into this one piece at a time.  But for now I have a memory in the back of my mind of George Grant delivering a lecture at my old alma mater.  The University is failing.

Katy McIntyre, (VP Student Services) the mover of the motion, is also in charge of this:

This committee works to ensure that both events held and services provided by CUSA are accessible to all students. As well, it aims to raise awareness of issues affecting students with disabilities on campus.

Ms McIntyre, let me draw attention to an issue affecting certain students with disabilities.  Let me take just one thin slice.  Here at the U of A I've met several students who live with Down Syndrome and other conditions which we consider to be disabilities.  In order to raise awareness of issues affecting them, let me draw your attention to just one issue: abortion of their kind of person, simply because, well, it's their kind of person.

Thank you for your attention to this detail.

(Original post below)

Buzzing around the academic & blogospheric network for the past little while has been a report that Carleton University Student Council has been considering amending it's constitution so that "pro-life" student groups would be effectively nixed from campus.

In other news, universities are places of thought and open discussion.

I'll see if I can find some first hand info on this...all I've seen is second hand, and not the actual text of a motion.   

UPDATE:  a few people have been wondering about contacting Carleton:

To RESPECTFULLY express concerns to the University:

Dr. Samy Mahmoud
President and Vice-Chancellor Pro Tempore
Office of the President
503 Tory Building
1125 Colonel By Drive,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
Canada

Phone: 613 520-3801
Fax: 613 520-4474

Email: [email protected]

Comments

[gela]

Well, I'm no activist. But my son was born at 25 weeks gestation. Legally speaking, a foetus, not a child.(There was a fight to even try to save him, because it was too soon and he wasn't really a baby yet.)
Here in Canada, I still had a legal right to an abortion at a time when my perfectly formed baby was able to hold my hand...
I can't begin to imagine what these people are thinking. That we need more rights to eliminate "unwanted" children. But not more rights to defend and nurture.
Thankyou for takling the issue with fortitude and grace.

[joseph]

thanks for your comment, gela. I think that calling attention and questioning such actions as CUSA is proposing is part of the Christian call in the public sphere, especially in the university as an institution of thought.

I think the best course of action is to aim to change hearts, and speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves.