ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS:

HOPING FOR CHOICE

by Allison Kach
Guelph Mercury, November 6 2008

Dear Editor - A number of weeks ago, the student union at the U of G voted unanimously to remove club status from a club called Life Choice, arguing an incident last March violated the student union's policy. The club itself was not informed of discrepancies in their actions until they were told their status was cancelled. Where was the transparency and responsible communication on the part of the student government?

The issue of abortion has been heating up throughout the country, with controversial events such as Morgentaler's receipt of the Order of Canada, the subsequent returns of previously awarded Orders, bill C-484 and more. The issue is not settled in Canadians' hearts and minds and it is not going away, so denial of discourse and even educational resources to the public would seem foolish.

The student union has the opportunity to support students who hold a differing view, a view of life, or to deny the appeal of the Life Choice group to keep their status. This issue has been visited on a number of university campuses in Ontario and those standing for life have been labelled 'anti-choice' and rejected the support of student governments.If we are really serious about choice, we should be bold enough to allow people the opportunity to all available resources.

Will the U of G set a precedent by supporting groups that do not fit into the cookie-cutter mould of modern humanism, or will it silence voices and opinions of their own students to keep with the crowd? Let's trust they make the right choice.