Another open letter to the UNB Student Union

Samantha Routledge - An Open Letter To The Brunswickan

January 25, 2012 7:00 AM ADT

Dear Editor,

I read in today’s Brunswickan (I17.V145, dated Jan 19, 2012) that the UNB Student Union has approved and granted funding for a “pro-life” student group called UNB Students for Life. Part of their mission statement, as quoted in “Open Letter to the UNB Student Union” (same issue) is to “educate the students and faculty of UNB ... directing them to pro life resources such as crisis pregnancy and post-abortion counseling services.” (Jason Retallick, pg 6)

I am extremely appalled and ashamed that such a group would be approved for funding from UNB’s Student Union. As aptly explained by Retallick, crisis pregnancy centres exist solely to control the personal, life-impacting choices of women. Through shaming tactics and invalid medical information, these centres negatively affect the mental and physical wellbeing of millions of women. They are not staffed by licensed medical or counseling professionals, and staff at these centres purposefully spread misinformation and employ devastating emotional manipulation.

It is irresponsible of the UNB Student Union to legitimize the above actions by approving a student group that will send students to visit such centres. The SU exists to protect the health and wellbeing of its students, not expose them to fraudulent medical advice. At UNB, I take pride in our diverse cultural backgrounds and richly varied opinions. I believe it is wonderful that we offer many clubs and societies that are based around beliefs, such as the many religious groups on campus. However, “pro-life” groups do not contribute to the richness of culture and respect that UNB seeks to foster. Instead, they intrude upon the safe space, which our university has proudly nurtured, by exposing pregnant women to a harmful culture of shame and dangerous medical advice. I will be sorely disappointed if “Students for Life” remains a sanctioned UNB club.

Samantha Routledge

2 comments

Emily Leaman on Jan 25, 2012 at 11:59pm

I agree with Samantha's letter. Ratifying the "pro-life" group was a choice made by the Student Union that was not in the best interest of the student population, especially because (to my knowledge) there is not a "pro-choice" group on campus to balance out the abortion debate. Like Samantha, I too will be very dissappointed if the "pro-life" group continues to be an ratified club on campus.

Emily Leaman
Pam Caldwell on Jan 26, 2012 at 2:20pm

If you have a problem with the Students for Life group, maybe you should do an open letter to them instead of hiding behind being upset with the SU. The SU didnt "choose" to ratify this group. The group "qualified" as a group so there is no grounds "not" to ratify them.