Is it appropriate for a university to give out pro-life leaflets

[StealthPolarBear]

I genuinely don't know. Was a bit disappointed

Yes any political propaganda masquerading as advice should be got rid of actually. I am strongly pro-choice but I would feel the same about a leaflet for a service that claimed to be advice and actually came from a private abortion clinic.

I'm sure the Uni would take that line. As I said, leaflets on a table or even anti abortion bumf is OK if it's obvious that's what it is.

Yes Mrs j. I have no problem with it being there in a "join our society" way. My issue is if it's seen as advice to pregnant women and maybe it's not meant to be. At first glance I certainly assumed it was though.

Fekko I'd argue pro abortion is the opposite if pro life with pro choice the middle ground

Really good analogy yes!! I'd feel the same.

Really good analogy yes!! I'd feel the same.

I'd have thrown the whole stack in the bin

Or you could burn them. You know who else burned books?

Have you read my most recent posts?

I've tried to address your points. Hyperbole is not helping.

I couldn't have burned them. It was raining heavily

Probably one of the other students put them there, either way I don't think certain subjects should be censored, especially a universities.

I think an information leaflet sitting on a standor table is fine it was probably sat along side other information services just because it was pro life I don't think it should be banned or censored

But it's not an information leaflet is it? An information leaflet gives, you know, information, and options. A leaflet that said 'you must have an abortion' isn't an information leaflet either, though, tellingly, they don't actually exist.

Student societies put out lots of leaflets and they can be all sorts of disparate political and moral views

“Yes they should only be provided with pro-abortion literature“

What is “pro abortion literature”?

As someone who works in higher education I would consider it unlikely that the University gave permission for those leaflets to be there, or if they did they didn't realise their content.

That's pro choice innit?

"Vitalogy

Probably one of the other students put them there,"
Do you think? I'd not considered that and assumed they were all university endorsed iyswim

If the education system and parents have done their job well, the students should be critical thinkers, whether we have or not is debatable.

SPUC is not an organization which will,provide balanced or factual information.

Thanks not dt

Vital but that's my point. Young women unexpectedly pregnant may not be thinking critically or they may happen to be among the few who don't for whatever reason. Even more reason they should be given balanced info.

I don't like pro life activism which is really just anti choice (for the record, i personally wouldn't have an abortion, but am strongly pro choice because i don't believe I have the right to impose my views on others).

However, if you wouldn't complain if there was a pro choice leaflet then i think complaining there was a pro life leaflet is a bit "i'm open to free speech as long as your views match mine".

That said, you don't know who put then there: society, university advice service, reliigous groups, student actvists. So i would leave it be.

Yes but who decides what's balanced. The individual needs to assess what they're reading.

I'd complain about a pro abortion leaflet as a pp suggested
I would not complain about a pro choice leaflet, no

On a table full of various student society literature - fair enough, the only thing that should be censored in that context is incitement to violence.

On a table full of info leaflets outside student services - totally inappropriate. There should be no political content in any of the literature in that context. Students don't visit welfare services to be exposed to a wide range of ideas, they go because they need factual information and/or support.

I think it is something you should be prepared for at a university - and a visit to Dublin will cause less of a shock. You are also likely to see graphic anti-meat leaflets, and possibly other distressing ones with images of torture etc.

However if in the health centre or near counselling etc. then I would complain. Those are inappropriate places.

University should be a time to explore ideas and have them challenged. If no one can express their pro-life views then they can't have them challenged.

I can honestly say I said things at Uni that I would be ashamed of now - but it was the right place to say them.