By the time American women are 45 years old, 43 percent of them will have had an abortion, according to some statistics.
As part of Choice Week, panelists took the time to discuss the intricate reproductive health options available on Tuesday night in Logan Hall. But no matter what the panelists had to share, they all agreed on one thing -- a woman's right to choose.
The five panelists -- ranging from a bioethics professor to an American Civil Liberties Union activist -- spoke at the Choice Week Activism Career Panel. Four of the panelists were female.
Around 20 students, only two of whom were male, attended the panel. The speakers talked about their personal and professional involvement with reproductive health care and pro-choice organizations for about 45 minutes.
After the panelists presented opening remarks, the floor was opened for a question and answer session that turned into a group discussion.
The event was co-sponsored by Penn for Choice and the Penn American Civil Liberties Union group as part of Choice Week.
Penn for Choice was started in the fall of 2000 and aims to educate and activate the University community about the issues of choice.
"It's a project we have been planning all year to help educate the Penn community," said Penn for Choice Co-Chairwoman Jennifer Richards, a College senior.
Two important and timely issues affecting the right to have an abortion were discussed at length by the panelists -- the election of the Pennsylvania governor and the Supreme Court judicial nominations.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed "Rendell is the only pro-choice candidate in this race, and if he doesn't make it to the primaries, there is no choice," commented panelist Leslie Anastasio, executive director of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League of Pennsylvania.
And as of now, Pennsylvania has "one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation," added panelist Jennifer Schwerin of Planned Parenthood.
Losing the right to have an abortion may not just affect Pennsylvanians, but all U.S. citizens as well if President Bush is able to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
"The laws just keep rolling out, and it's just a matter of time before President Bush appoints the conservative judge of his dreams," Anastasio said.
Students agreed with the ideas presented by the panelists.
"I thought all the panelists were very well informed, which helped because the audience seemed to be very receptive to pro-choice issues," said College sophomore Joshua Brown, president of the Penn ACLU.
