2008 Woodie Awards
Pro-life or pro-choice
Students, faculty members express opinions
Sarah Talley Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Issues
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How do Amarillo College students and faculty define it?
"It's taking away a life," said Remoy Philip, a liberal arts major. "And it's much tougher on girls in school who have had an abortion."
Others believe the choice is a personal one that every woman has a right to make on her own.
"I think that it's OK," said Edith Gaete, a radio-TV major.
"Having an abortion might actually let a girl go on with her career, not having the child to deal with."
Since Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, people have been analyzing whether a fetus is a legitimate human being.
According to www.abortionfacts.com, "Never, in modern times has a price tag of economic or social usefulness been placed on an individual human life as the price of its continued existence."
Dr. Brian Farmer, a professor of social sciences, said, "I wish it weren't such a hot issue. Nobody likes abortions, but many students view it as a legitimate option."
Sometimes when an abortion takes place, the father of the child knows nothing about it.
"I would hope it would affect the guy, but I know so many girls make the decision to have an abortion without consulting the father," said Deb Avara, a behavioral sciences instructor.
Avara also said she believes a person's views on abortion are determined by family, education and other influences, even peers.
"What they've been taught about abortion affects their view on it," she said. "Having an abortion doesn't affect social standing anymore."
Should abortion be made readily available to anyone who wants one? Several types of abortion are available at abortion clinics throughout Texas.
One option is as simple as swallowing pills, while the other options involve surgery.
According to a recent study conducted by www.about.com, there are about 46 million abortions each year worldwide, 20 million of them obtained illegally.