The controversial anti-abortion group, Voice for Life, at the Johns Hopkins University won its battle to become a fully recognized club that will conduct "sidewalk counseling" sessions outside clinics and be eligible for funding, the university announced Wednesday.
The Student Government Association's Judiciary Committee unanimously decided to overturn an earlier decision by student legislators to block the group and its access to certain on-campus privileges.
Andrew Guernsey, a freshman who spearheaded the effort to re-establish the Voice for Life group, said the Judiciary Committee's decision, following a hearing Tuesday, upholds Hopkins' institutional commitment to free speech. The group was active for about 15 years until 2010.
"Today is a victory not only for pro-life students here at Johns Hopkins, but for pro-life students around the country," Guernsey said in a statement. "We hope that our story of rising above discriminatory opposition can inspire pro-life students around the country to courageously take a stand for life and speak truth to power at their own college campuses."
Voice for Life intends to hand out literature on campus in an attempt to influence the future doctors and nurses being trained at Hopkins, as well as deter female students from having abortions. The group members will also interact with individuals outside nearby clinics. Guernsey said the interactions will be non-confrontational.
The Judiciary Committee called for its decision to be effective immediately. As a sanctioned club, Voice for Life will be listed in all university publications and websites, be able to raise money on campus and publicize its events, among other privileges. The decision to recognize the group as a club does not guarantee that Voice for Life will receive university funding, which is approved in a separate process.
"This ruling is not a judgment of the group's eligibility for funding, or a comment on the tradition that advocacy and awareness groups do not receive annual budgets from the university," the five-member committee said in a statement.
Monica Rex, a freshman who will serve as vice president of Voice for Life, said the struggle to become a group taught her an important lesson.
"We are ready to begin the real work of saving lives," Rex said in a statement. "While the road was difficult, we have learned just how much this fight for life means to us, and how important it is that students at Johns Hopkins have the opportunity to hear our pro-life message. Johns Hopkins has always stood for the very best in higher education, and we look forward to bringing our pro-life message to future leaders in the medical industry here at Hopkins."
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