Pro-choice editorial from The News Record

Staff Editorial: Images of abortion protest extreme and unavoidable

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Posted: 10/25/07

The Genocide Awareness Project (GAP), sponsored by Students for Life, brought a photo-mural display of aborted fetuses to the University of Cincinnati's McMicken Commons on Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23.

"The Genocide Awareness Project is a traveling display that depicts pictures of historical genocide and abortion, and this display has been brought to well over 100 universities throughout the country," said Paul Troiani, a volunteer for GAP.

The display utilizes images of aborted fetuses interspersed with images of historical genocide, including lynchings of blacks and the Holocaust. GAP wants the display to "stimulate dialogue," but they want the dialogue "to be informed," according to Troiani.

We at The News Record feel the display, even though it may accomplish its intended goal, was wholly inappropriate in its delivery. We feel that the violent imagery in an extremely public area, which can not be easily circumvented, is not only on the borderline of disturbing the peace, but it is also unfair to students who do not want to be exposed to such images, no matter what their opinions on abortion may be.

The News Record staff is not supporting the anti-abortion platform or the pro-abortion platform; we merely feel GAP's exhibit was presented in an unfeeling and inappropriate manner.

The display was located on the hill of McMicken Commons, near Tangeman University Center, making it highly visible from many areas of campus. It initially had two tiers of images, making it even harder for those who did not want to be exposed to the images to avoid them.

There were two reasons for the signs not being placed further away, according to Troiani.

"Students can see the signs from a considerable distance. This campus is so wide, they're going to see these orange signs and blue signs," Troiani said. "The other reason is security reasons. If we put these signs too far away, there's a possibility we could not monitor them and could be damaged."

However, if there was a possibility for theft or defacement, why not station a volunteer there to pass out literature and spread the word? This would broaden your message, prevent damage to property, and help warn the students that don't want to view the images effectively avoid them.

And what of the possible repercussions to the university's image?

There were several groups of potential incoming freshmen on campus at the same time as the display. To have such violence exhibited in the center of campus can't be positive for UC's image.

The News Record staff understands GAP has a First Amendment right to free speech and freedom to assemble in a public place, such as UC's campus. However, we feel GAP's mission and directive is marred by their choice to use primal and unnecessarily emotionally charged images. Free speech should be protected for all people and organizations. However, when it interferes with daily life and is blatantly offensive to much of the populace, steps must be taken to rectify the situation.