Posted on 09/07/2018 1:48:05 PM PDT by Morgana
For years, abortion activists at Acadia University in Nova Scotia have been attacking a campus club that provides life-affirming information and support to students.
On Aug. 26, the university Students’ Union succeeded in kicking out the group over claims that it was not in compliance with union bylaws, CBC News reports.
“We took strong action. We acted very quickly to investigate this issue … and we quickly worked to ensure that their presence is no longer with us,” said Students’ Union President George Philp.
Philp said the group provided misleading information and did not follow bylaws requiring at least 15 members and a membership fee.
Acadia Pregnancy Support offered free pregnancy tests, information, referrals and other support to pregnant and parenting students at the Wolfville university. It also worked with the Valley Care Pregnancy Center in Kentville to provide life-affirming information and support.
Many are not happy about the Students’ Union’s action, and Valley Care Executive Director Bill Davenport said the mainstream media reporting on the issue has been misleading, according to the CBC.
Hannah Dawson-Murphy, a federal Conservative candidate in West Nova, has been a vocal supporter of the campus group.
“I’m extremely disappointed in the Acadia Students Union for taking this action,” Dawson-Murphy wrote on Twitter. “ALL views should be respected on a university campus.”
The Chronicle Herald reports:
One student, who was interviewed by CBC said she contacted the centre for a pregnancy test and was given a pamphlet that claimed abortion would increase her risk of breast cancer — something the Canadian Cancer Society says has not been proven.
But Dawson-Murphy said she has heard positive stories about Acadia Pregnancy Support helping students in trouble keep their children while staying in school.
“I just think it’s shameful, honestly, the fact that it was done so quickly there was no discussion, it was just ‘you’re kicked out’ and I don’t think that’s right,” she said. “I think that the Acadia student union just kind of jumped the gun, I think they did mainly because of the media coverage which is unfortunate.”
Valley Care also pointed people to a 2014 article in the university student newspaper that defended its work. Student writer Eliza McGuire admitted to being skeptical about the campus group, but said she was surprised to find that it was helpful and nonjudgmental.
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“A source warned that the club was a disguised pro-life group that had snuck [sic] by the Acadia Student’s Union … and it is the legitimacy of this claim that I sought to determine with a little investigation,” she wrote.
However, after conducting her investigation, McGuire concluded, “They provide an excellent resource to people who need the help and are not sure where to turn; this help is free and comes without judgment, and such a thing is priceless.”
Dawson-Murphy said the whole situation is not fair to students, but many are afraid to speak out.
“The fact that the only pro-life group on campus was shut down rather quickly, I just don’t see that as fair and I think a lot of other students agree with me but won’t speak out about it,” she said.
Canada has some of the most radical pro-abortion laws in the world, allowing abortions for any reason up to birth. It does not have parental consent/notification requirements or informed consent requirements, and many abortions are paid for by taxpayer dollars.
Government leaders have been going after people with pro-life beliefs as well. Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration began denying grants to groups that refuse to support abortion on demand. This spring, it rejected a record 1,500 Canadian Summer Job grant applications because they refused to support the killing of unborn babies for any reason up to birth.
Most of the groups used the funds to served refugees, low-income children and other minority groups. Now, they have been forced to close or drastically reduce their programs. The requirement has prompted massive protests from Christians, Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups, but Trudeau has refused to make any exceptions.
... and therefore they're confident they won't go on a homicidal killing spree.
Seems the rule is all religions. That seems okay. They don’t appear to have singled out Christians as have some American schools. Credit to Canada in this.
Selective tolerance at work.
Socialism will not work, period.
1st amendment violation sue the college out of existence.
“Canada has some of the most radical pro-abortion laws in the world,”
Not quite true. Canada has no abortion-llimiting laws whatsoever! Nothing is prohibited.
For what?
For being good enough to be biased against all religions?
More or less. Either you accept all or none. A reasonable point. Then, disqualify Islam as an evil and terrorist cult.
Once in the appropriate club, they can combine their votes and elect one of their own to office. Then let the fun begin.
This is actually not uncommon here in US. Either allow all or none. A rule used with lots of topics to avoid bias. I don’t see the problem.
I disagree; the Canadians are discriminating against citizens who are pro life. There is no balancing against atheists and agnostics.
True, but there are no Islamic terrorist cult members and their marriage practices. Well, I’m not Canadian, we haven’t annexed Canada yet (which we should), so not our problem.
Canada has no first amendment
Read the statement again. I think you are in agreement with Morgana.
Discrimination! What happened to free speech? And Right to Assemble?
If it’s a private college or University, OK. But if the state, or taxpayer finding, are involved, I think they can’t prevent students organizing as Christians any more than as Socialists or Liberals or Croatian-speakers or Vegans. It’s invidious discrimination.
Thank you for clarifying my statement. . . . Of course, you are correct, and even socialists have enough awareness to insist upon population control.
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