SilentLoner Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Its the time of year again where the "prolifer" students get the Genocide Awareness Project to come to campus for two days. They're arriving tommow and staying till Thursday. If you're not familar with them, they're the ones who set up huge graphic photos of lynchings, the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust and set them next to photos of aborted fetuses and make comparisons between the two. The pro choice group I'm in has spent the last two days posting fliers warning students about GAP and are planning to "escort" students across the area where they set their stuff up. These are the kind of people who oppose not only abortion, but sex ed and any kind of contraception. If you look at the stuff on their website its clear they hate sex in general. Its impossible to have a rational argument with them. If you try, they avoid questions and will just list their views. Plus they want people to argue with them, so they can photograph students doing so, post them on their website as a sign of success (don't bother to ask for consent). They come to campus almost every single year and it upsets a big majority of the students. Its my first semester here so i havent seen their presentation yet. I want to help out escorting on that day, but my class schedule on Wednesday will get in the way, I have time on thursday but my social anxiety will kick in. I'm not good at talking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godlessgrrl Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Hmm... I realize it's probably too late to try something like this, this time around; but I wonder if something like an anti-GAP pledge drive might be effective next year, in the same vein as a few groups have tried with the Phelps crew. The idea being, before GAP ever arrives at all, as soon as you know they're coming, choose a group or organization which stands for everything they're opposed to - Planned Parenthood, NARAL, or something like that. Then get people to pledge $$ based on how many people GAP sends, or how many fetus signs they have, or how many lies they tell to people, or some other measurable variable like that. Have folks pledge whatever they can per person/stat/lie/sign/etc. - it could be a penny, could be a dollar, could be whatever. The day of the event, you quietly set up your table within sight of the GAP people (with security there if necessary... having a willing member of the press present might not hurt either), count the people/lies/stats/signs/etc.; at the end of the time period, collect your pledges and send 'em to the aforementioned charity. I have heard that this can clear the Phelps group out lickety split, so I wonder if something like it might either clear the GAP people out, or at least offer folks on campus a way of countering what they're doing. Anyhoo it's just an idea, fwiw... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piprus Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 If the GAP is "upsetting" to a majority of students on your campus, what has been done by the student body to repel their inititiative? Has there been a petition sent to the Dean? If the majority of the student body resents the efforts of this organization, has there been a poster campaign? Is there a confrontation planned? Does your student body just tolerate this agenda-promotion type group, or have you taken steps to send the message that they are not wanted? If their presence and their campaign bothers you, the issue is yours...accept their campaign among you, or stand up and say "No!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentLoner Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 If the GAP is "upsetting" to a majority of students on your campus, what has been done by the student body to repel their inititiative? Has there been a petition sent to the Dean? If the majority of the student body resents the efforts of this organization, has there been a poster campaign? Is there a confrontation planned? Does your student body just tolerate this agenda-promotion type group, or have you taken steps to send the message that they are not wanted? If their presence and their campaign bothers you, the issue is yours...accept their campaign among you, or stand up and say "No!" It does upset most students (the juniors and seniors refer to it as: "the nasty displays that group puts up each year), but I'm not sure if anyhting can really be done about it. Apparently it falls within the "free speech" regulations of the university. There better not be a confrontation, thats likely what GAP wants. More "success" pics for their website. Good idea gwenmead, I should suggest that to the club leaders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeiPassion Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Hmmm.... Do you think you can circulate a petition that would ban GAP from coming to your campus? It's just a thought really. You know what I don't understand? These people don't seem to know the definition of genicide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Paineful Truth Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 What's the purpose of an escort? I mean, wouldn't it be better to just let the Gappers demonstrate that the gap they refer too is the one between their ears? Or are escorts a deterrent to physical violence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentLoner Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 What's the purpose of an escort? I mean, wouldn't it be better to just let the Gappers demonstrate that the gap they refer too is the one between their ears? Or are escorts a deterrent to physical violence? Not really sure, I think its supposed to be symbolic of defiance or something, just to show that the pro choice presence on campus. Either way, my schedule wont allow me to help out with that. Tomorrow, maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white_raven23 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 If the GAP is "upsetting" to a majority of students on your campus, what has been done by the student body to repel their inititiative? Has there been a petition sent to the Dean? If the majority of the student body resents the efforts of this organization, has there been a poster campaign? Is there a confrontation planned? Does your student body just tolerate this agenda-promotion type group, or have you taken steps to send the message that they are not wanted? If their presence and their campaign bothers you, the issue is yours...accept their campaign among you, or stand up and say "No!" It does upset most students (the juniors and seniors refer to it as: "the nasty displays that group puts up each year), but I'm not sure if anyhting can really be done about it. Apparently it falls within the "free speech" regulations of the university. Horse shit. If there's anything that is discouraged regularly on a lot of campuses it's "free speech". Where is this "area" these people are setting up booths and shit? If it's on university property, then that means the university is allowing them use of the space. Especially if it's within one of the buildings. The university has to give them PERMISSION, and THAT the student body can protest I think. At the very least, shunt these assholes to the public street sidewalk outside the university. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentLoner Posted November 30, 2006 Author Share Posted November 30, 2006 Horse shit. If there's anything that is discouraged regularly on a lot of campuses it's "free speech". Where is this "area" these people are setting up booths and shit? If it's on university property, then that means the university is allowing them use of the space. Especially if it's within one of the buildings. The university has to give them PERMISSION, and THAT the student body can protest I think. At the very least, shunt these assholes to the public street sidewalk outside the university. Its out on this open space in one of the courtyards. The group paid to rent it. I found out there actually are petitions going around, but basically it comes down to the free speech deal. I went there today, our group decided to drop the escorting and just stand at the courtyard entrances with protest signs (and wearing our NARAL tshirts) and hand out condoms, which GAP opposes. It was actually a lot of fun. The campus is majorly pro-choice. A lot of people thanked us for being out there (not to mention we handed out at least two sackfuls of the condoms). Lots of students got upset, even some prolifers( this one guy came up to us and was like: im prolife too, but WTF are these guys doing? The Holocaust?!) Bunch of students stood up to them, great to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white_raven23 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Fabulous! Nice thing about free speech....it does work both ways! Did anyone take pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godlessgrrl Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Right on. Way to go with the counterprotest and the condoms. Woot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Paineful Truth Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Horse shit. If there's anything that is discouraged regularly on a lot of campuses it's "free speech". Hooooahhh and amen. Campii have become temples for pilgrimages in homage to political correctness rather than free inquiry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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