On Jan. 17, a controversial paid anti-abortion advertisement insert was included in the Vanguard.
Since that time, we have received many heated responses to the insert because of its anti-abortion message. As a result of the strong reaction on campus, I feel the need to respond.
First, let me point out that the contents of any of our ads are a reflection of the purchaser, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Vanguard or any of its staff members. This said, I stand by our decision to include the insert.
Our advertising policy states that we will not accept “ads that promote violence, discrimination, harassment or denial of constitutional rights,” or “offer or seek illegal goods or services.” Political advertisements “are accepted but must contain information on who paid for the ad,” and “must contain the word ‘advertisement’ on each page.”
When we initially received the insert request, we spent a lot of time debating whether or not it would be appropriate to include it. For many, the contents of the insert directly conflicted with their personal points of view, but we all knew how important it was that we try not to make our decision based on personal political beliefs.
After we agreed that no decision could be made based on whether or not we ‘liked’ the ad, I posed the following question to my staff: If another organization submitted an insert promoting a woman’s right to choose abortion, would we accept it? The answer was yes.
It is a difficult job, trying to maintain some objectivity, abandoning personal ideals in the pursuit of allowing more than one perspective to be heard. As part of a highly coveted free press, it is not our job to deliver only ‘our’ voice to our readers. We cannot employ prejudice based on political ideas.
So I challenge you, our readers, to ask yourselves a similar question: Would you be writing us, calling us, talking about us and confronting us in the hallways if we had included an ad promoting a woman’s choice in Thursday’s paper?
In staying with our pursuit to provide an arena for the exchange of ideas, I encourage you to continue your communication with us. However, I encourage you to do more. Whether you agree with our decision or not, whether you approve of the ad and its contents or not, write to us; also write to Human Life Alliance, the organization that placed the ad. Write to Planned Parenthood and Voices for Choice (VOX) here on campus. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, take action in your life for your voice to be heard.
Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice groups have already contacted the Vanguard about placing a response, and we will give them the same consideration we give all our advertisements and letters to the editor.
On this day, the 29th anniversary of Roe v Wade, the abortion debate is still of paramount importance. Let this be a reminder of the need for this debate in the media, in the classroom, in the coffee shop, among campus political groups and in our own individual lives.
Erin Lloyd
Editor, the Vanguard
Human Life Alliance Voices for Choice:VOX
Lexington Ave. N., #205 503-775-4931
St. Paul, MN 55126 www.ppcw.org
651-484-1040
campus@humanlife.org