When UB Students for Life collaborated with the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) to bring its photomural exhibit to North Campus, displaying difficult photos of abortion images, the club was acting well within its First Amendment Rights. The university campus is public domain and no one is in the position of "abridging the freedom of speech" on its grounds.
The display has galvanized the student body. It has marshaled anger and indignation, resulting in protest and vehement defense. The goal of the exhibit, as stated on GAP's website, is to link the "genocide of abortion" to "historically recognized forms of genocide."
The graphic images of aborted fetuses are juxtaposed with images of the Holocaust and lynching that took place during slavery. The photos are blatantly obscene and designed to induce horror - which is both the complaint of the project's detractors and the point of its demonstrators.
GAP is a traveling exhibit. The members go to college campuses throughout the country advancing the anti-abortion movement through the same methodology. They try to reveal what they see as the moral monstrosity of abortions through the power of visual images.
What seems more relevant to UB students at this time is not so much the practice of how they promote their message, but rather, the manner of our response.
Those who oppose the exhibit for comparing the legalization of abortions to Nazi Germany's attempt to exterminate Jews from Europe are well within their rights to see such a connection as absurd. Those who are angry at the exhibit for expounding the abortion process in a way uncharacteristic of how the majority of these procedures occur and who resent someone trying to dictate what a woman can do with her body are all well within their rights to protest.
The fact that all of these opinions were presented over the course of the two-day protest is a sign that the undergraduate student body is becoming more involved. Whenever something happens at UB, we are often disappointed over the students' failure to respond.
Certainly such an inflammatory topic that was propelled into the student spotlight in controversial fashion played a large role in escalating a reaction. What needs to be emphasized now, however, is the need to continue engagement through peaceful and respectful participation at the debate on Thursday.
Last year, the debate quickly descended into madness. People began shouting and emotions ran high - it was aggressive and intense. Surely we can expect animated arguments again this year, but we should keep our focus on refraining from becoming volatile. It should be accepted at this point that everyone will never agree on this hotly contested issue. It will always be polarizing and divisive.
What needs to be brought to students' attention is that our biggest accomplishment as a community in this predicament would be to conduct ourselves with tolerance and respect, courtesy and class. People should voice their opinions - but they should do so diplomatically.
The debate will take place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Knox 20. Christian Andzel, president of UB Students for Life, has reported to The Spectrum that he is anticipating approximately 300 people in attendance.
Those who are concerned about the issue or who want to learn more about the arguments from both sides should surely go.
Thus far, the proceedings have been vigorous but have remained non-violent. A professor has been arrested, but many students have become active - and most of it has been a positive form of protest.
The participation we have seen should continue on Thursday and it should be replicated for other issues again in the future. We should all aim to be courageous enough to express our convictions and compassionate enough to listen to others. Student involvement is always a good thing, but it is best when it is done a certain way.
Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
