Penn and Drexel fraternity brothers joined up to host an open debate Tuesday to discuss issues of race and abortion.
The event, hosted by the Penn and Drexel chapters of the multicultural fraternity Phi Beta Sigma at Drexel University’s Creese Student Center, aimed to target the reasons behind an increasing number of abortions among minorities and its effect on minority communities.
To initiate discussion, the organizers first showed three YouTube videos — a debate on abortion at George Washington University, a vlog entry on the extreme standpoints and a scene from Scrubs showing an absolute stance of the church against abortion.
Around 30 students — most of whom were black — who attended the event expressed varying views on the legality of abortion, the effect of socioeconomic status on abortions and the impact of abortions on black communities. Most in attendance chose to identify with either a pro-life or a pro-choice standpoint, although some were hesitant in choosing a side.
“I am personally against abortions, but the government should not be able to tell you what you can and what you can’t do with your own body,” Rowan University senior Caprice Laws said.
Many also stressed the importance of education and upbringing by capable and responsible parents. “These children, who were brought up in the ‘90s by their poor, drug-infused teenage parents have no support system,” Terrance Sistrunk, who works for the Philadelphia Police Department, said.
Some also addressed the impact of socioeconomic conditions on the prevalence of abortions among minorities. “What is the point in life when you live in poverty and the higher socioeconomic structures suffocate the proletariat?” School of Arts and Sciences graduate student Renaldo McKenzie said.
“Economic structures predispose certain people to certain decisions,” he added.
As to whether a Christian can support abortion, “People sin all the time and still consider themselves Christian,” Laws said.
The debate, which was part of a series of monthly discussions of controversial issues led by Phi Beta Sigma, was organized “way before the Planned Parenthood controversy,” Liberal and Professional Studies student Reuben D’Silva said.
“We chose abortion as the topic because it is one of the few issues pertinent to the American culture where there is a fifty-fifty distribution of opinions in the young people,” he added.
The Penn and Drexel chapters host similar events on various topics each month, he said, adding that they will host a panel on different definitions of God in April.
