Fletcher, Jane, & John

^{GAP Returns to the University of Louisville}

	GAP is seen by thousands and thousands of students (photo courtesy of Meredith Hunt).  Below: TV coverage multiplies the impact.

The urban campus.  In some ways, Urban U is very different from Big State U.  We don’t have statistics to back this up, but we think Urban U is a lot more conservative than you might think.  First, a lot of students come from the surrounding rural areas, and they tend to be conservative.  Also, many students are working 10 to 20 hours a week.  They may be quite conservative, but their work schedules leave little time for political activism.  On the other hand, there tends to be a small but vocal group of committed, radical leftists.  They get a lot of attention, sometimes giving the impression that the whole university is on the leftist fringe; but on the whole, the student body is relatively conservative.  We have seen this at many urban universities, and the UofL was no different.

Cardinals for Life.  Because conservative students at Urban U are not generally politically active, they rarely organize a pro-life group.  If they do, it is small and doesn’t last very long.  However, the UofL is a notable exception.  The Cardinals for Life have a strong group of 15-20 committed members.  Key factors include the strong Catholic influence in the region and some talented leaders among the current group of pro-life students.  Unfortunately, student leadership comes and goes.  The most important element necessary for long-term effectiveness is a small number (one or two) community leaders who nurture and support the student group, people like Donna Durning and Tim Tomeny.  Without them, this GAP would not have happened.  If you live near a campus, YOUR support is the ONLY way these student groups will remain active and effective over the long term.  And, yes, I did say “YOU” and I did say “ONLY.”  Please, just do it.

Anger, tears, and thanks.  A female student approached one of our volunteers and said, “You can take your pictures and shove them up your @$$.”  Our volunteers all sign an agreement to treat passersby with respect, even if they are being verbally abusive, so this volunteer was not daunted.  She engaged this angry student in a lengthy and sometimes tearful conversation about abortion and the pictures.  As she left, the student said, “I’m glad we had this discussion, but I haven’t changed my position.”  Well, maybe not yet, but we’ll see.

^{Both GAP and RCC Dominate the University of Kentucky}

The RCC trucks allow us to show the reality of abortion to thousands of students during each class change..

	A group of students study the GAP pictures. Because the GAP pictures feature US quarters and dimes as size references, some students pull coins out of their pockets and visualize the unborn child in real size. Below: This student is looking at diagrams of prenatal development in the medical school text that we carry. We ask the students never to believe anything we say, but to please check everything out for themselves..

Another measure of success is the large number of editorials and letters that appeared in the Kentucky Kernel, the student newspaper.  Here is a sampling:

I would like to thank everyone involved in the recent abortion demonstrations on campus for completely ruining my favorite pastime this past week.  My pleasant walks through campus are ruined... There will be an equal lack of depression on my part when UK’s campus is no longer the home to any sort of rally, demonstration, protest or religious ceremony.  It’s fine and good to have opinions and beliefs; just keep them to yourself and off campus.  (Mike Moll, junior, 10/20/2005.)

I am glad that Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. did not keep their opinions to themselves.  Also, I am thankful that this institution of higher learning embraces freedom of speech and diversity of thought on this campus.  (David Harris, senior, 11/3/2005.)

The crucial question in whether or not abortion is permissible is, “What are the unborn?”  Presentations like GAP simply get us there more quickly.  If that which is depicted in those photos is happening to human persons, then abortion is a travesty.  If, however, it is a blob of tissue akin to a tumor, then abortion is morally benign. ... Exposing the truth of abortion is much more important to us than winning a popularity contest.  (Joel Haubenreich, UK Students for Life, 10/28/2005)

There was plenty of intelligent discussion happening in both areas.  I personally toured the display and had three intelligent conversations.  I commend the volunteers of both groups (Students for Choice and Students for Life) for being willing to maintain professional composure and discuss the issue courteously. ... All around I saw students talking about the issue. ... I had been told that this kind of discussion was the goal of the display.  (Mike Richardson, Vice-President, UK College Democrats, 10/25/2005)

A more productive result was that it certainly stimulated campus discussion on the topic, and challenged people’s beliefs, to a degree.  Indeed, the display was an excellent—and perfectly legal—use of the rights allotted to every American under the First Amendment, as were the counter-demonstrations set up by campus groups that advocate abortion rights.  (Kentucky Kernel, 10/24/2005)

To arrange your automatic monthly bank draft to support our work:

1. Download and print the Electronic Gift Transfer Authorization:
http://www.abortionno.org/...GiftTransferSE.pdf
2. Fill out the form.  Make sure you designate the gift for "CBR Southeast"
3. Enclose a voided check or deposit slip bearing the account number of the account we should draft.
4. Mail the Transfer Authorization form and a voided check (or deposit slip) to CBR Southeast, P.O. Box 20115, Knoxville, TN 37940.

Please pray that God will raise up others to help you support this life-saving work!