This motion to stop funding of a pro life group was passed yesterday.
It was mentioned that the pro-life group discriminated on the rights of Women...
1st of all you can not discriminate against a right...you can only to a person or group of people.
2nd These are people in the debate of abortion and other alternatives not to force an issue.
Anti-abortion groups on notice after CUSA tables policy amendment
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.
According to McIntyre, anti-choice groups are gender-discriminatory and violate CUSA’s safe space practices.
The motion focuses on anti-choice groups because they aim to abolish freedom of choice by criminalizing abortion. McIntyre said this discriminates against women, and that it violates the Canadian Constitution by removing a woman’s right to “life, liberty and security” of person.
Lifeline representatives Sarah Fletcher and Nicholas McLeod oppose the motion. They believe it will only prevent their club from obtaining recognition, resources and funding from the student association.
A pro-life group existed on campus for many years, according to Fletcher, and “last year was the first year that it ceased to exist. So now it seems [...] they are trying to amend the constitution to prevent us from being on campus.
“Why now has the issue changed?”
McIntyre said she received complaints after Lifeline organized an academic debate on whether or not elective abortion should be made illegal.
“[These women] were upset the debate was happening on campus in a space that they thought they were safe and protected, and that respected their rights and freedoms,” said McIntyre.
McLeod said the motion itself is discrimination, and that it violates their group’s right to freedom of speech.
“[We are] promoting awareness about issues but we are not trying to tell people that they have to think that way; we are trying to promote discussion. What [CUSA] is trying to do is silence us so there is no discussion, there is only one side to the issue,” said Fletcher.
Reaction from student groups at other universities has been mixed.
The McMaster Students Union (MSU) has an active pro-life club, said Nancy Xi from MSU diversity services. She said that while she is sure people have their personal biases, no one has been "actively campaigning" against either side.
Although his school does not have a pro-life club, JD Muir, vice-president (university affairs) for the Wilfred Laurier University Students' Union, said students would not come across a policy like that at his school.
"Something like [this motion] would never be ratified here," said Muir. "We would see [the motion] as discriminatory."
However, Julien de Bellefeuille, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa vice-president (university affairs), said that although his student association does not currently have any policies regulating anti-choice groups, he said the motion is a good idea and something that his school should adopt as well.
CUSA's motion will be formally debated at their next council meeting Dec. 5, during which council will vote to pass the motion
It was mentioned that the pro-life group discriminated on the rights of Women...
1st of all you can not discriminate against a right...you can only to a person or group of people.
2nd These are people in the debate of abortion and other alternatives not to force an issue.
Anti-abortion groups on notice after CUSA tables policy amendment
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 motion focuses on anti-choice groups because they aim to abolish freedom of choice by criminalizing abortion. McIntyre said this discriminates against women, and that it violates the Canadian Constitution by removing a woman’s right to “life, liberty and security” of person.
Lifeline representatives Sarah Fletcher and Nicholas McLeod oppose the motion. They believe it will only prevent their club from obtaining recognition, resources and funding from the student association.
A pro-life group existed on campus for many years, according to Fletcher, and “last year was the first year that it ceased to exist. So now it seems [...] they are trying to amend the constitution to prevent us from being on campus.
“Why now has the issue changed?”
McIntyre said she received complaints after Lifeline organized an academic debate on whether or not elective abortion should be made illegal.
“[These women] were upset the debate was happening on campus in a space that they thought they were safe and protected, and that respected their rights and freedoms,” said McIntyre.
McLeod said the motion itself is discrimination, and that it violates their group’s right to freedom of speech.
“[We are] promoting awareness about issues but we are not trying to tell people that they have to think that way; we are trying to promote discussion. What [CUSA] is trying to do is silence us so there is no discussion, there is only one side to the issue,” said Fletcher.
Reaction from student groups at other universities has been mixed.
The McMaster Students Union (MSU) has an active pro-life club, said Nancy Xi from MSU diversity services. She said that while she is sure people have their personal biases, no one has been "actively campaigning" against either side.
Although his school does not have a pro-life club, JD Muir, vice-president (university affairs) for the Wilfred Laurier University Students' Union, said students would not come across a policy like that at his school.
"Something like [this motion] would never be ratified here," said Muir. "We would see [the motion] as discriminatory."
However, Julien de Bellefeuille, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa vice-president (university affairs), said that although his student association does not currently have any policies regulating anti-choice groups, he said the motion is a good idea and something that his school should adopt as well.
CUSA's motion will be formally debated at their next council meeting Dec. 5, during which council will vote to pass the motion
