Clinton praised, scorned for lifting abortion bans

It was more than just a campaign promise. Newly-elected President Bill Clinton spent Friday reversing the White House's stance against abortion, not in words but in deeds. As thousands of proponents of abortion rights crowded the nation's capital in protest of the 20th anniversary of the landmark abortion Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, Clinton was busy lifting restrictions on abortion that were imposed over the last 12 years. Clinton reversed the ban on fetal tissue research and experimental import drugs, targeted at the controversial "abortion pill" RU486. He also silenced the so-called "gag rule," which had prevented government-funded agencies, such as Planned Parenthood, from discussing the option of abortion with patients. Many students said yesterday that they approve of Clinton's actions. College senior Emily Hellstrom said that she thinks Clinton has started his presidency "on the right foot." "I've been waiting for this for 12 years," she said. "It's about time people gave some thought to women." College sophomore Tracy Layland said she was also glad that Clinton stood by his stance in favor of abortion rights. "That's one of the main reasons I voted for Clinton," she said. "I couldn't stand Bush's stance on abortion. I was glad that [Clinton] overturned the gag rule and the other federal restrictions [that hinder] the freedom of reproductive choice, which is something I strongly believe in." Layland added that she is "looking forward" to the next four years of the Clinton/Gore administration. "I hope with a new administration they will reverse the conservatism of the Supreme Court," she said. "This summer we came way too close to overturning Roe v. Wade. I don't want to worry about that for the next four years, at least." College senior Iya Davidson said that while she supports Clinton's actions, she still worries about the conservatism of the Supreme Court. "I think he's taking a step in the right direction, but I'm still scared because there are so many conservative judges on the Supreme Court," she said. "It seems like Roe v. Wade is always in jeopardy." Demie Kurz, co-director of the Women's Studies program, said that she, too, worries about last summer's Supreme Court decision that placed several restrictions on abortion in Pennsylvania. "I'm really pleased with Clinton's actions, but I still worry about the Supreme Court decision that limited the access [to abortion]," she said. "I can't speak for the entire Women's Studies Department, but I think that women should be able to make their own decisions about this very private matter." While most students agreed with Clinton's reversal of abortion restrictions, others did not. College junior Kristin Menconi said that Clinton's abortion stance was the main reason she did not vote for him in November. "I'm totally pro-life," she said. "I'm against abortion for any reason. It's what I believe in. I just think abortion is murder -- plain and simple." Mollie Kelley, executive director of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, said yesterday that she took part in a march for abortion restrictions in Washington D.C. on Friday, adding she was disappointed Clinton made such "a blantant show of disregard" for the protestors. "I guess I would say that Mr. Clinton said 'In your face pro-lifers,' " she said. "But, in all respect to the presidency, we are here to stay. We will continue to fight against the killing of innocent lives."

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