Boys and girls walk into pregnancy clinics together. Some leave in tears, some in relief and some in greater confusion than before. Are they keeping it, giving it away, giving it up? Boys and girls, men and women, what do they do?
Or, what would University students do in their shoes?
For some, it is not a clear-cut choice. Until last week, first-year College student Jane Latham Hodges said she definitely could identify more with the pro-choice argument. But after a Bible study and a discussion with students who attended "Abortion: A Woman's Perspective" sponsored by Hoos for Life earlier this month, she says she can see the pro-life argument much more now.
"I can't choose because I can see both perspectives," Hodges said. "A woman makes a choice to have sex, but what if she's raped or drugged or just young and stupid and doesn't realize that's a consequence?"
On the other hand, though, Hodges said pregnancy is not the fault of the "seed," as she refers to an embryo.
"I don't think [rape] is an excuse to have an abortion, but it's one of the best reasons out there," she added.
If she were placed in the situation, Hodges said she is torn as to what she would do.
"That could potentially ruin my life, stop my career, my education, but on the other hand, living with the guilt -- I don't know. I would want an abortion to get on with my life, but on the other hand, I don't think I could live with it."
"Abortion: A Woman's Perspective," which took place Nov. 7, considered the same question. The program presented the experience of one post-abortion woman, who requested that her name not be printed. She decided to have an abortion when she found out she was pregnant after being raped because it was unclear whether the baby was a rapist's or her fiancé's.
She said she believed it was the right decision at the time. When she walked into the abortion clinic she found it to be a very cold place, however, and she felt as if the clinic was only interested in her money and couldn't wait for her to sign the paper.
After the abortion, she said she felt instant regret.
"Immediately I knew that I had made a mistake," she said, adding that she suffered from embarrassment, guilt and depression for years after.
"I believe all women will suffer from an abortion, and those who say they don't suffer are still in the denial stage," she said.
Her view was reinforced by Dr. Karen D. Poehailos, a graduate of the University Medical School and Department of Family Medicine Residency, who addressed the issue from a medical stance. Poehailos detailed supposed short- and long-term effects of abortion, based on several studies. Among the former, she specifically referenced bleeding, infection and damage to the internal organs. As for the long-term effects, Poehailos emphasized a greater likelihood of suicide and homicide, as well as of contracting breast cancer.
She cited the story of Diana Lopez of Los Angeles, who died in 2002. According to Planned Parenthood records, Lopez went in for an abortion during her second trimester and underwent a surgery that took less than six minutes. After the surgery, Lopez died from a massive hemorrhage caused by "traumatic perforation of the cervix," according to the Los Angeles County coroner.
But is Lopez's case typical? Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association state abortion is less likely to result in maternal death than pregnancy.
"Whether you're pro-choice or pro-life, it'll always be a difficult decision, regardless of reports of post-abortion syndrome," first-year College student Victoria Nguyen said. "Whoever's making the decision should be well-informed about it. It's not enough to ban abortion based on that [syndrome]."
Fourth-year College student Sarah Benckart said she agrees that if the syndrome does exist, it does not justify the state stepping in, describing this as "paternalistic."
"I wholeheartedly support women being educated on every potential aspect that may affect risks or her experience," Benckart added. "With that being said, I'm greatly opposed to medically inaccurate information being spread, and the health of women, and individuals in general, being subjugated by ideology."
First-year College student Michelle Sawwan said the health of the mother must be taken into consideration.
"Obviously if an 11-year-old gets pregnant, and her cervix is too small to have the baby, then have an abortion," Sawwan said.
She said, however, she also values the health of the fetus, and in turn, child. Despite the 115,000 plus children waiting for adoption in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she feels it is better to give the child a chance at life and give it up for adoption.
"I think that every woman should have the opportunity and the right to choose, but that every woman should choose to have the baby," Sawwan said.
Hodges sees the potential for life in a fetus as well. She, like Sawwan, is active in her religion and participates in religious groups and services on Grounds. Both said they agree their religious beliefs have heavily influenced their opinions on abortion.
"I kind of tend to be more pro-choice, but my religion throws a kink in there, when I consider killing a human baby," Hodges said.
Both Nguyen and Benckart consider themselves to be among the pro-choice movement. Even though Nguyen is aware of the possible long-term repercussions of an abortion, she said she feels it would be even worse to care for a child if one is not fully able to or is not fully dedicated. Furthermore, she added that adoption is not always the best alternative.
"You end up with orphanages that have the same effect as child neglect [as] if the parent were to have a child and not care for it," she said.
For Benckart, adoption is not central to the abortion debate.
"It is the right of any individual regardless of gender, sex, ethnicity, income, to have control over his or her fertility and to have the right to reproductive self-determination," Benckart said.
It is not whether it is right or wrong to have an abortion, according to Benckart -- it is the right to make an autonomous decision.
"But the bottom line is the best way to avoid these situations is to prevent them, and that has to be done through comprehensive sex education," said Benckart, who volunteers at Planned Parenthood.
Benckart added that a focus on prevention is not morally intrusive; it is simply providing information.
But not everyone feels as Benckart does.
"There's never been a consensus in religion, in society," Benckart said. "In the face of all that, you have to allow someone to make that decision."
To find a unified opinion would be miraculous on any issue, let alone on abortion. So what does it come down to? Boys and girls, what would you do?
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