Pro-Life Group Drops Pamphlet

Upon opening their doors early yesterday morning, many Harvard students found something they didn't expect amidst the newspapers and pizza coupons: an anti-abortion door drop distributed by the Harvard-Radcliffe Alliance for Life.

The 12-page pamphlet, titled "She's a Child Not a 'Choice,'" contained descriptions of abortion techniques, information on human fetal development, personal stories of women who had chosen to terminate their pregnancies and several pictures of fetuses.

Olive C. Brown '97, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Alliance for Life (HRAL), said the group's motive for distributing the pamphlet was to "make people think about the issue in a constructive way."

Though the College allows any student group to door drop, student reaction to the anti-abortion pamphlet was mixed.

Students interviewed said they took greater offense at the HRAL's method of distribution than the content of the pamphlet.

"I think it was distasteful the way that they shoved their propaganda in our faces," said one Leverett House senior who asked not to be identified. "I'm kind of pro-life, but I disagree completely with [HRAL's] methods."

"It's almost like they're forcing us to read it," one first-year said.

The co-chair of Students for Choice (SFC), Julia A. Karp '98, said the HRAL door drop doesn't necessarily indicate a strong anti-abortion presence on campus.

"A majority of Harvard students are pro-choice," Karp said.

Hoping to play off of students' pro-choice sentiments, Karp said SFC plans to door drop their own materials early next month.

The pro-choice door drop will supply women with information about reproductive health choices and reproductive rights, Karp said.