Group uses anniversary to get word out

Coat hangers dangling from trees, bushes, fences and trash cans told the story of a dark time for women's reproductive health and a plea to protect the reproductive rights of women everywhere.\nThe Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance hung coat hangers around campus Wednesday night to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in all 50 states. \nThe anniversary was Tuesday, but the group celebrated the decision all week by informing the public on basic issues concerning the pro-choice movement. The hangers were placed all around campus, but the group focused on the areas around Woodburn and Ballantine halls. \nThe FMLA is a group that has only been on campus for three semesters but has been vociferously active. The chapter takes official stances on abortion, women's rights and other issues such as the environment. Earlier this year, the FMLA set up a table behind the Genocide Awareness Project's display on abortion at the Sample Gates to pass out fliers and console people upset by the graphic images.\nSophomore Amanda Stevens, vice president of FMLA, said it is essential to get the group's message to young women everywhere.\n"People our age don't realize how important the Roe v. Wade decision really is," she said. "Abortion has been legal for our entire lives, but we are precariously close to losing the basic rights over our own bodies. Women in college need to realize that this is a big problem."\nStevens expressed concern over the stance President George W. Bush has taken on abortion.\n"We have a president who is vocally anti-choice," Stevens said. "We need to fight back and let the government know that we will not let them control our bodies. This is about basic civil rights."\nStevens added that the arguments concerning abortion should not be considered moral since abortion is a human rights issue.\nSenior Emily Roth, president of FMLA, said the group hung the hangers to raise awareness of the important issues surrounding abortion and reproductive rights. \n"We used coat hangers to show what it was like before the Roe v. Wade decision," she said. "Women used to use coat hangers, knitting needles or other painful, unsanitary instruments to terminate pregnancies."\nBut junior Cherry Blattert, secretary of IU Students For Life, countered FMLA's comments.\n"Saying women were forced to use horrible instruments to kill their baby is not an accurate portrayal of circumstances," Blattert said. "There are other options."\nWomen who have the baby -- whether they keep it or put it up for adoption -- are very admirable, Blattert said.\n"(FMLA) have a right to express their opinion," Blattert said. "But I wish people would stop and consider the civil rights of everybody."\nThe hangers had fliers attached that contained different sayings and information, ranging from what happens to unwanted children to the number of women who died every year from botched illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade. \nSenior Matt Riley, who participated in the campaign, said the importance of this project cannot be emphasized enough.\nRiley, along with some members of FMLA, is also participating in the Million4Roe campaign circulating a petition to prevent the appointment of pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. The campaign will present the petition to various senators requesting a filibuster to prevent the confirmation of the pro-life judges. \nMillion4Roe will also present President Bush with 5,000 coat hangers to represent the 5,000 women who will die from botched illegal abortions in one year if abortion is outlawed.\n"I helped out with this campaign because I believe in basic civil rights," Riley said. "Abortion is a basic right that women should have over their body. I think it's important that we get the message out; these hangers remind everybody about an important issue, and the petition will help protect those rights women have fought so hard for"