Pro-life activist Patricia Staley spoke about the dangers and moral problems of abortion at the College Nov. 20. Staley represented the Mercer County division of New Jersey Right to Life, introducing several alternatives to abortion while questioning the motives of pro-choice supporters.
Staley repeatedly attacked pro-choice supporters and spoke about the physical and mental damages that can befall a mother-to-be who decides to have an abortion.
"Reputable doctors do not want to do abortions," she said. She accused many organizations that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood, of eugenics, the policy of trying to breed out imperfections in a population.
She supported this claim by citing that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a vocal eugenicist, and hoped to use her organization to abort the children of what she considered to be unwanted members of society, such as minorities and the poor.
At the end of the lecture, there was a discussion between the pro-choice and pro-life advocates in attendance.
Staley reacted remarkably well when one questioner said that he considered babies to basically be "parasites," in that they feed off of a mother's nutrition and give nothing back, and it was therefore well within the mother's rights to get rid of it.
Staley accepted his point but said that although it is technically true, it is widely accepted that a baby is not a parasite.
Other pro-life advocates in the audience were not as sympathetic toward the questioner. Tom Sales, Student Government Association senator of culture and society and junior political science major, who attended the discussion, directed several remarks at pro-choice attendees.
Staley's lecture detailed what is involved in each stage of different abortions, what happens to the developing baby, and the physical and mental effects that the abortions can have on the mothers.
She also reviewed the history and evolution of the abortion debate since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which made abortions legal in all 50 states.
Staley encouraged anyone who may be considering an abortion or knows someone who does to visit Choice One, a local "crisis pregnancy center," which helps its clients explore options outside of abortion.
Choice One also assists unexpectedly pregnant women with the more difficult aspects of their pregnancy, such as telling parents and continuing education, Staley said.
