Pro-life, pro-choice activists to speak at MSU
Following outcry from several pro-life organizations, Mississippi State University has announced a pro-life speaker in addition to Dr. Willie Parker, a physician working at Mississippi’s sole abortion clinic.
Parker, one of the subjects of the documentary “Trapped,” and the author of the book “Life’s Work: A moral Argument for Choice,” is scheduled to speak on the MSU campus Thursday evening in a Women’s History Month presentation. The presentation is sponsored by the MSU Gender Studies Program, and will be titled “Abortion and the Christian Case for Choice.”
However, many pro-life organizations, including the Tupelo-based American Family Association, have objected to the talk, prompting a second lecture to be scheduled with pro-life activist Christina Marie Bennett.
The Bennett lecture is scheduled for March 6, and is backed by the MSU Students for Life and MSU Catholic Campus Ministries.
Bennett was almost aborted as a baby. After hearing the story in her 20’s, she became strongly pro-life. She writes for several pro-life publications, and currently works at a CareNet Pregnancy center. She is currently based in Connecticut.
MSU Gender Studies Program Director Kimberly Kelly said she decided to host the Parker lecture out of a need for more pro-choice
events on campus. She said while MSU had no prochoice student organization, MSU Students for Life had hosted more than 30 events so far this academic year.
“Pro-choice perspectives don’t get a lot of air time in Mississippi,” Kelly said. “It’s a very religious, very conservative state. There’s also this taken for granted assumption that everybody’s anti-abortion, if you listen to things said by our state legislators.
If you would look at the bills that are passed and the quotes from religious leaders, there’s this assumption that there’s only one way to feel about abortion, particularly if you are a Christian.”
In a statement, MSU President Mark Keenum said the university supported Bennett’s lecture.
“In keeping with the university’s efforts to provide students with viewpoints on all sides of the compelling issues of the day, we are supporting the efforts of MSU Students for Life and Catholic
Campus Ministry to present a program that gives our campus community a national speaker from the pro-life position on Tuesday, March 6, in the same venue that Thursday’s program will be held,” Keenum said.
Keenum also dispelled any notion of either lecture being funded with taxpayer dollars.
MSU Students for Life Vice President Isabelle Comfort said MSU students deserved to hear both sides of the issue.
“We fully support free speech, and the right for (Parker) to come, “Comfort said. “
He has full rights to speak on campus. We just would like to represent the opposite view of things.”
While Kelly said there was a general lack of pro-choice discussion in Mississippi, she acknowledged the right Students for Life had to host its event.
“It is freedom of speech,” Kelly said. “It is a university. That is one of its most noble goals to foster free speech. I have no problem at all with their speaker.”
Keenum acknowledged the controversy certain speakers could bring to MSU, but
said overall, he felt the speakers brought to campus were politically balanced in regards to the pro-life versus pro-choice debate.
“While some may view this program as objectionable, other members of our campus community would argue that in support of academic freedom, differing opinions on topics of national debate should be heard,” Keenum said.
Keenum also emphasized the need to give students the intellectual components necessary to make their own judgments.
Parker will speak Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Turner Wingo Auditorium in the Old Main Academic Center. Bennett’s lecture is scheduled for March 6 at 4 p.m. in The Taylor Auditorium in McCool Hall. Bennett will also participate in a Panel for Life starting at 6 p.m. on March 7 in the Foster Ballroom in the Colvard Student Union.
“(I hope for) a peaceful, respectful crowd that shows the same hospitality that this state university has always been famous for,” Kelly said.