by Jay Reynolds
Daily Lobo
Representatives from the local chapter of a national organization advocating abortion rights are planning for a statewide celebration Wednesday commemorating the abortion rights movement.
NARAL, formerly known as the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, will coordinate the national campaign marking 30 years of fighting for women's right to choose and Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court's landmark decision that a woman's right to an abortion falls under her right to privacy within the Fourteenth Amendment.
NARAL's local chapter, NARAL New Mexico, will be organizing several abortion rights-oriented events around the state to mobilize support.
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"We are facing the most hostile atmosphere in our 30 years of existence," said Giovanna Rossi, executive director of NARAL New Mexico. "We must be ready to take action now because of the huge threat to the pro-choice movement."
Rossi said the threat now facing the pro-choice is the actions and work of the Bush administration.
"Bush has given us every indication that he will restrict a women's right to choose," Rossi said. "We are going to elect a pro-choice president in 2004."
Agreeing with Rossi, some UNM students say they don't see eye to eye with the president.
"You should have a choice, it's part of being free," said Lynzie Hays, a UNM junior majoring in education.
Abortion rights, as well as anti-abortion perspectives, are all available to UNM students who may be pregnant or who want to learn more about health and pregnancy issues.
Ron Besante, nurse manager at the Student Health Center, said at the health center, the issue isn't about abortion rights or anti-abortion advocacy, but that the center sees its role as a facilitator of information meant to help educate those who come to it for assistance.
"The Student Health Center is not pro-choice or pro-life," Besante said. "We facilitate the student in both cases."
Although it provides non-biased information about various pregnancy options, Besante said that helping students prevent pregnancy and stay safe are the health center's chief goals.
"The main mission in the Student Health Center is to keep students healthy, happy and in school," he said.
Birth control pills, condoms and emergency contraceptives are available to students at the health center.
"From a Student Health Center standpoint, we absolutely stress safe sex," Besante said. "We don't want you to have to make the toughest decision of your life."
Dauneen Dolce, executive director of the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico, said her organization has experienced good and bad things during its 30-year struggle to battle abortion advocates.
"Bad because 48 million lives have been lost without due process of law," Dolce said. "And to me that's not something to celebrate."
She added that she believes the influence and popularity of the abortion rights movement has declined since Bush has become president.
"Even those who support Roe v. Wade know it was unconstitutional," she said. "Right of privacy does not allow you to take a human life."
Organizers for NARAL events say they expect a strong turnout for the events planned for Wednesday.
