The Spring Fair Committee unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the North Baltimore Pro-Life Study Group from displaying prenatal models at their booth on the grounds that they could be offensive or disturbing to viewers.
JHU Voice For Life (VFL) joined the North Baltimore group in protesting the decision to the Spring Fair Committee. The committee then reversed its decision and agreed that the group has the right to display the models.
“The members of Spring Fair admitted to be wrong in their initial decision, and after further reflection decided that they wouldn’t impose any restrictions on displays presented by any community group,” SGA Executive President Janice Bonsu said.
The North Baltimore Pro-Life Study Group works closely with VFL, a campus pro-life group that has been the center of several controversies in recent years.
“They’re the ones whose application was denied and told to resubmit without the fetal model display,” VFL Co-President Andrew Guernsey said. “We joined in protest as students. That’s why we felt we had an interest in getting involved as a student group on campus.”
Guernsey adamantly disagreed with Spring Fair’s initial decision.
“I firmly believe that that was the wrong thing to do. As a campus, Hopkins can tolerate a variety of students views,” Guernsey said. “The fact that fetal models are disturbing—I found that ironic that they found that disturbing given that Hopkins is a world-class medical institution. That would not be the case in my view.”
Guernsey discussed censorship concerns regarding the display.
“Even if some people find it offensive, that shouldn’t allow for grounds for censorship. I don’t think censorship has a place on the Hopkins campus,” Guernsey said. “I think that as students who are intelligent, I think we can make decisions for ourselves. We don’t need bureaucrats or student leaders telling us what to think, so that’s why I think what they did was wrong.”
Furthermore, Guernsey said that he believes Hopkins students are out of touch with the views of the general American public regarding censorship and abortion.
“I think many students on the Hopkins campus are simply oblivious to the views of the majority of americans. i think the censorship of the pro-life people is evidence of that. I think the Chick-Fil-A ban is evidence of that. I think we’re better than this—what we’ve been seeing over the past week with these two issues.”
Guernsey shared the results of a Gallup poll entitled “More Americans “Pro-Life” than “Pro-Choice” for First Time” to emphasize his belief that Hopkins student beliefs don’t correlate with the majority of Americans. According to the survey, 51% of people polled identified as “pro-life” compared to the 42% that identified as “pro-choice.”
Dana Ettinger, the Hopkins Students for Liberty secretary, expressed her opinion on the situation. Ettinger emphasized that she was representing her personal beliefs, not the beliefs of the Students for Liberty group.
“Personally from my perspective…I believe in free speech, and with free speech comes responsibility. They have the right to display that propaganda, but Spring Fair is a family event,” Ettinger said. “There’s going to be lots of families around and I don’t think it’s the right place. I don’t think they should have it there. I agree with the decision to let them put it up, but I think its a poor decision on the SGA’s part. Last year, they had it and they were very much there to support their pro-life views, and while they absolutely have the right to do so, I don’t think it was the right place to have that conversation.”
However, Ettinger said she agreed with Hopkins Students for Liberty that the North Baltimore Pro-Life Study Group has the right to display their booth at Spring Fair. Ettinger also explained that libertarians all have different views on abortion, so she cannot speak for anyone else in the club.
The North Baltimore Pro-Life Study Group’s booth will be open to the general public for viewing at Spring Fair this weekend.
