Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Plan A Brings Grievances to DeGioia’s Office Following Event in Red Square

Members and supporters of Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice delivered a letter of protest to the office of University President John J. DeGioia Thursday afternoon, citing concerns over an alleged lack of administration support for reproductive rights issues on campus.

Before making their way to DeGioia’s office in Healy Hall, about 20 participants gathered in Red Square at 1 p.m., drawing a crowd of about 15 listeners at an event featuring students who recounted problematic experiences encountered on campus regarding reproductive issues.

As passersby crossed paths between classes, Plan A supporters held banners inscribed with messages like “What is Georgetown’s Plan A?,” and some covered their mouths with tape to represent what they considered a silencing of dialogue by the administration.

In testimonies to observers, several students cited failed attempts to acquire contraceptives, difficulties receiving the HPV vaccine on campus and the lack of coverage for contraceptive pills in Georgetown’s student health insurance package. At the end of each story, the speaker said, “My voice, my thoughts, and my needs have been silenced.”

The accounts drew some applause from the bystanders, and no students walking through Red Square expressed vocal opposition to the event.

After gathering in Red Square for about 20 minutes, about 15 of the participants walked to the president’s office, where they requested to speak to DeGioia. Once the students were informed DeGioia was not on campus, they asked to speak with a representative of the administration. While waiting for an audience, they presented the petition to an executive assistant, and a member of the group filmed statements made by the participants.

Chief of Staff Erik Smulson then listened to a prepared statement from Plan A, promising to hand over both a letter and a tape recording from the group to DeGioia.

The letter was a response to another letter sent Feb. 24 by Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson denying the group’s appeal for university support. Plan A leaders were frustrated over DeGioia’s lack of response and Olson’s reply, according to Marion Cory (COL ’10) of United Feminists, which pooled efforts with H*yas for Choice to form the nascent Plan A coalition.

Plan A was founded to address an alleged need for material and educational resources about reproductive issues on campus. According to Cory, the group represents under-served interests in the university community.

“We have support from the majority of Georgetown students. We have received a lot of positive feedback – the event was a success,” Cory said. “The feedback that is negative comes from a place of misunderstanding what this group is about. Often the issue gets polarized. This is not about that, it is about making necessary changes. This is not at all about attacking Catholic and Jesuit values, or how they are offensive to pro-choice students.”

Cory said she hopes the university changes its policy toward the group.

“This is an attempt at figuring out how the Catholic and pro-choice dialogues can coexist. It is about freedom of speech and dialogue. It is an attempt to more fully fulfill Jesuit values. It is in consistency with the moral values of the university,” Cory said.

United Feminists and H*yas for Choice plan to increase Plan A’s activity on campus in the coming weeks, according to Cory. A Plan A event slated to take place after spring break will feature three male panelists in favor of abortion rights speaking on the role of men in the abortion rights movement.

In a 5-4 vote Monday evening, the Student Activities Commission approved United Feminists’ funding request for the panel discussion, despite concerns raised by some SAC commissioners about a potential conflict with the university’s policy of denying sponsorship of groups or events in conflict with Catholic teachings.

“SAC’s vote was a great encouragement. We don’t anticipate the administration blocking SAC’s decision, and we hope some administrators come to the event,” Cory said.

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