UCD students' group backs the 'pro-life side'

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 01, 2002 00:33 by reader

Irish Times 28 february 2002

Abortion is an issue particularly relevant to students, a group which generally "have pro-life feelings. Very few are pro-abortion on demand".

On the campaign trail: Students continue to be strong campaigners on abortion and pro-life issues. Declan Fahy talks to a UCD group calling for a Yes vote.

Abortion is an issue particularly relevant to students, a group which generally "have pro-life feelings. Very few are pro-abortion on demand".

So says a group established by UCD students who are advocating a Yes vote on March 6th.

"We want to make it clear that Yes is the pro-life side," says Paul Brady, a 3rd year philosophy student and member of the UCD Yes to Life campaign.

Poster space was scarce in UCD this week, as voting in the college's student elections took place on Tuesday and through- out yesterday.

The students' Yes campaign had to compete for attention with the 11 candidates for five Student Union positions - as well as the advocates for a No vote. "It's pretty hectic," says Mr Brady, but adds that their campaign will now intensify.

Ms Seána Davin, chairwoman of the campaign and a 3rd year history student, said some of the campaigning on the No side urged a No vote if you were in doubt. But "we don't want to appeal to ignorance. We say: here's the information, make a decision according to your conscience."

And students are interested, she says, frequently stopping at their stall for long periods of time, asking specific questions - though many are confused about the issues. Queries by students have mainly focused on the pregnant woman's possible risk of suicide, and "the so-called crimina-lisation of women. This is a simple untruth", Mr Brady says.

The campaign, which currently has about 40 active members, developed from the UCD Life Society, which focuses on other issues such as euthanasia and genetic engineering. The campaign, say its members, has links to the Pro-Life Campaign and aims to provide information on the abortion issue to the college's staff and students.

A talk has been organised each week by the campaign, focusing on the main areas concerning the referendum. Mr Brady says they realise abortion is a sensitive issue. Shock tactics, therefore, should not be part of the campaign, he says.

The first talk gave an explanation of the issues involved. Ways of reducing the numbers of women who travel to the UK for abortions were outlined in the second. For the third talk, broadcaster Eamon Dunphy interviewed psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey yesterday on the reasons why she will be voting Yes.

For those who have further questions, they have an email address [email protected] where students can email their queries. The website UCDYesToLife.com also provides further information.