MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- Two students newspapers in Wisconsin refuse to run an advertising supplement published by Minnesota-based Human Life Alliance (HLA). The pro-life advertising supplement, entitled "icare...", employs an environmental theme to explore the impact of abortion on students in the United States.
Both the UW-Oshkosh "Advance Titan" and the UW- Stevens Point "Pointer" have refused to run the educational supplement.
The "Pointer" stated, "We have a policy against advertising topics which have a tendency to cause conflict, shame or controversy among the student body." The "Advance Titan" gave the following reason for refusing the advertising, "While we don't necessarily disagree with the message that you wish to promote, some of our readers might, and we don't want to alienate our readership by appearing to choose sides in such a controversial argument."
"Human Life Alliance has worked with hundreds of student newspapers, giving young people a chance to learn truth about abortion," said HLA Executive Director Jo Tolck. "I guess these two editors have decided for their entire university what other students need to know--so much for free speech and academic freedom."
Human Life Alliance inserts were accepted by the Marquette University "Tribune", the UW-Eau Claire "Spectator", the UW-La Crosse "Racquet" and the UW-Whitewater "Royal Purple" newspapers this semester. The UW-Milwaukee "Post" and UW- Madison "Badger Herald" ran a similar HLA piece last spring.
"This is censorship. It truly is," said Virginia Zignego, communications director of Pro-Life Wisconsin the organization sponsoring the inserts. "Either they are ideologically opposed to the pro-life message or too scared to run anything controversial. Whichever, it is insulting to the intelligence of college students."
HLA offers a paid advertising supplement to student newspaper across the country as a way of developing on-campus dialog around the controversial abortion issue.
"icare..." is an updated version of the HLA's original educational publication, "She's a Child, Not a 'Choice.'" Displaying vibrant colors and engaging graphics, "icare..." uses a go-green theme to educate students. The publication features an eye-catching center section entitled "Save the Babies" that focuses on the development of the preborn child including images of in utero child development.
Previous versions of HLA's pro-life campus supplement include "The Silent Epidemic", "Trapped..." and "We Know Better Now." Combined, these pro-life materials have reached 162 million people since 1991.
"icare..." and Human Life Alliance's full campus campaign is available for review online at www.humanlife.org.
