Tolerance

The Student Union at Queensland University have shown themselves to be opposed to differing opinion and free speech like many other secular universities around the world.The school's Newman Society has been censored and threatened with disaffiliation from the student union because union leaders believed the group's pro-woman and pro-pregnancy campaign took a stand against abortion.

The poster and leaflets, displayed on a booth outside the student cafe, did not mention abortion but featured a photograph of an eight week old child in the womb, and offered compassion and support for young women who might find themselves facing the difficult challenge of an unplanned pregnancy.

Elise Nally, third-year applied science student and Newman Society secretary, said in a report by The Australian that the union's action was totalitarian and against free speech.

I'd like to know what laws we've broken, Nally said. The union is acting like a dictator.

Joshua Young, president of the student union, gave this explanation for the union's actions against Catholics on campus: I know the Newman Society thinks the union is being heavy handed, but the student union voted in 1993 for free, safe abortion on demand so all women have a genuine choice when faced with unwanted pregnancy.

From a student body of 30,000, a total of approximately 3,500 voted in the 1993 referendum, with about 1900 in favor of abortion rights, 1400 against, and 200 abstaining.

When asked if the vote precludes other views being advocated in campus debate, Young said, It does.

Once again choice does not mean choice but an overwhelming prejudice for abortion That you can't even advertise for women to have a child and that you will help them if they do. Like I have said before when pro-choicers started to open up pregnancy centers to give assistance to women who find themselves in a difficult situation and need help, I will start to agree that choice isn't just a rhetorical device.