December 16, 2013

January Event-in-a-Box: Legality v. Morality

41 years of legal abortion have passed and still the battle continues. Abortion advocates continue to lobby for so-called “safe, legal, and rare” abortion. However, we know that today’s abortions are certainly legal, but neither safe nor rare.

This month is your opportunity to challenge your campus about the legality of abortion! Challenge your peers to recognize that abortion is not safe nor moral. It is time to be the revolution that leads our nation towards a world without abortion.

Violence against another human being is never a human right. Will you take a stand with us?

Free Event-in-a-Box

This month’s box includes the following materials: 5 Pro-Life Generation signs, SFLA flyers, and materials from Human Life Alliance. Please email Beth to request your “Box.” Packages will be sent while supplies last. In your request email, you should include “Event-in-a-Box Request” as the subject line. Also, include your NAME, SCHOOL, STUDENT GROUP, and ADDRESS.

Please note: This program is designed for active college pro-life groups. Boxes will only be sent to students currently active in a pro-life group or seeking to start a pro-life group.

Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, January 21st SFLA National Conference (MD): Join thousands of your pro-life peers at the largest pro-life youth conference in the country! This is the perfect opportunity to network with fellow pro-life students and to learn from the leaders of today’s pro-life movement.
Wednesday, January 22nd National National Pro-Life March (DC): National Pro-Life March in the largest pro-life peaceful protest in the world with over 500,000 pro-lifers marching every year. Book your trip, and prepare to march!
Saturday, January 25th Walk for Life West Coast (CA): West Coast pro-lifers- get down to San Francisco, and walk with over 50,000 pro-lifers for the 10th annual Walk for Life West Coast.You don’t want to miss this!
Sunday, January 26th SFLA West Coast Conference (CA): Planning on attending the Walk for Life West Coast? You are in luck! SFLA is hosting a new conference this year for our West Coast students. Sign up today, and join us in San Francisco for our first annual SFLA West Coast Conference.

Talking Points

It is important that your group develops a list of talking points to use when discussing legality versus morality. Here are some helpful pages to review to prepare you to explain U.S. past and current abortion laws in the United States:

Legal History of Abortion in the US
Legal Analysis of Roe v. Wade
Legal Analysis of Doe v. Bolton
Abortion Facts and Statistics
Why do state laws matter?
Does Legal Abortion Save Lives? (HLI)
Exceptions: Is Abortion Ever Permissible? (HLI)
Overview of Abortion Laws (Guttmacher, 2013)

Learn how to better defend your pro-life values in the face of common logical fallacies used by pro-aborts. Review “5 Logical Fallacies Pro-Aborts Use and How to Respond.”

On the “To Do” List

This semester is going to fly by! Don’t forget to plan and prepare for the coming months and for next year. Here’s what you need to do:

Hold an Executive Board meeting to discuss this semester’s plans. You should hold your student leaders’ meeting as soon as you return to school (before your first group meeting). Plan what events your group is committed to organizing, and create a plan of action to complete them. Make a “To Do” list for event details to be discussed at your first group meeting.
Have your first Spring meeting. Discuss the upcoming events for this semester. Assign roles for the upcoming events. Plan final details for upcoming trips.
Prepare leadership transitions. If your group has elected new leaders, or if you will be electing new leaders later in the semester, take time to train each new leader in their position. Pass along group binders, contact information, passcodes, and instructions. Meet individually to discuss each role and the expectations associated with this role. Talk to your SFLA Regional Coordinator about successful leadership transitions.

Events & Activities

Request a free SFLA training! Contact your SFLA Regional Coordinator to train your group. This month, we recommended that you try the following trainings: Planning Your Year for Success, Transitioning Leadership, and/or Embracing Controversy.

Create a “Free Speech” Wall to give your peers the opportunity to write their opinion of abortion. Across the top of the canvas or board, write “Abortion is …” or “Should Abortion Remain Legal?” in bold letters. (This can be a standing display, or simply laid across a table.) Leave markers taped to the wall so students can write their ideas. Assign at least 2 group members per shift throughout the duration of the display. Members should discuss answers with students as they contribute to the wall.

Host a poll table posing the question “Should Abortion Remain Legal?” Create a large sign with the question “Should Abortion Remain Legal?” On your table, have 2 different sign-up sheets- one for “Yes” and one for “No.” As students sign their support for either side, members should then ask why they believe in that position. (Remember- Students who say “No” may be potential group members!)

Organize educational tabling and flyering campaigns. For 2 weeks, hold a table with a display and distribute handouts with current abortion statistics and brief descriptions of the abortion laws in your state. Throughout the 2 weeks, post flyers around campus to share these facts and to bring attention to your campaign. Check out the graphics below for images for your campaign.

Host a debate or a discussion panel to discuss the legality and morality of abortion laws. You may choose to do a series of debates or discussions, or you may prefer to do one event. Ask professors at your university, or invite a speaker, to participate. Use questions such as:

Should abortion remain legal?
Are some forms of abortion morally permissible?
Should there be legal exceptions for abortion?
Should morality influence legality?
Does legality equate morality?

(See our guide for debates and discussion panels here.)

Join community activists in lobbying efforts. Ask your local community pro-life group about upcoming legislative actions in your state, town meetings, or other lobbying efforts. Write letters to your government officials, or go to your state house to lobby in support of pro-life legislation.

Create a display of the approximate missing students among your student body (due to abortion). About 1/3 of our generation is missing due to abortion. Show your campus what this impact looks like at your school! Create a display to demonstrate 1/3 of your school’s student body using flags, crosses, shoes, or even chalked hearts. Prepare handouts to explain the event and to provide further information about the abortion crisis in your state.

Recommended Graphics

Use these images from SFLA and other pro-life organizations to draw attention to abortion! It is easy to download and print these images as full page flyers, or to upload them onto your social media accounts. Never underestimate the power of 1 image.