Students Debate Planned Parenthood Abortion Funding

Disputing the fundamental ethics of federal funding for abortion, student group representatives squared off in what most spectators described as a notably civil debate hosted by the Harvard Political Union on Monday.

In front of a crowd of about 50 spectators in Sever Hall, students debated the proposition: “The United States government should fund abortion services through Planned Parenthood."

Under the Hyde Amendment, Congress currently mandates that no federal funds given to organizations like Planned Parenthood may be spent on abortions, except in extreme cases like rape and incest.

Arguing in support of the proposition, Sarah S. Fellman ’18 and Brianna J. Suslovic ’16, representatives from the Harvard College Democrats and the Harvard International Women’s Rights Association, respectively, said the government ought to fund abortion through Planned Parenthood in order to provide all women with access to a procedure that they characterized as a fundamental healthcare right.

“As it currently stands, you can’t stand for women’s health without standing for legalized abortion,” Fellman said.

Will Long ’18 and Scott Ely ’18, both representatives from Harvard Right to Life, opposed the proposition, arguing that the federal government should not pay for a procedure that Long described as “at best morally questionable; at worst, murder.” Instead, they argued, federal money would be better used to strengthen and expand community health centers that provide health services other than abortions.

“Why should the American people, half of whom believe abortion is morally wrong, give its tax money to one special interest group that specializes in [abortion] when there are so many other clinics that provide women the health services they need and respect the dignity of human life?” Long said.

Spectators noted the relative civility of the debate over an issue that both sides characterized as controversial.

“I appreciated how respectful they were to each other,” Yousra S. Neberai ’18 said. “I feel like a lot of the time people are preaching to the choir and not directly talking to each other.”

Jeff R. Metzger ’17, chair of the Harvard Political Union, noted the importance of facilitating this kind of discussion on such a divisive topic.