Jesuits, Students Urge Pro-Life Funding
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Inside . Bronx Decay this week's . ADayWithMrs.Liddy . The New Porno Scene Stablings • f^S Saucers? . Women for Careers . Women Against Women . The TV Debates . ROTC Satire Tony Norris VOL. 58 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11,1976 FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK Jesuits, Students Urge Pro-Life Funding by Neil Grealy Co-Director of COPE Tom Mclntyre clarified the operation of that activity in reply A petition signed by 112 Jesuits and to the description offered in Glynn's letter. about twice as many students was presented He stated "Abortion referrals make up only to the Student Activities Budget Committee 2'/2 of the total calls we've handled this ""(SABC)last Tuesday, urging the committee semester. Last year, referrals to abortion to fund an on-campus pro-life group, agencies and to Birthright (A pro-life service) according to John Glynn, president of the made up 92'/2 of the total calls. We refer Fordham Pro-Life Alliance. people either way: to abortion agencies or to The petition was forwarded as part of an adoption services. We are non-partisan." oral appeal given by Glynn before the The petition and appeal did COPE an committee. In the text, the SABC's funding injustice, according to Jeane Smirka, a "of abortion-referral clubs, such as COPE," COPE co-director. "The pro-life people was used as an argument for the allocation gave us a political stand. We're not a political of monies to a pro-life activity. In a written group." appeal given to the SABC earlier, the same Rev. Gerard Reedy, the only Jesuit on argument was advanced more strongly: the SABC. stated he "hates to see COPE "SABC funds COPE, which includes among characterized only as an abortion-referral its services abortion referrals. In other words, agency. It was an awful thing to label them our members are paying a student activities that way. They handle mostly academic fee for COPE to refer Fordham women to problems, and I would hate to have them abortion clinics; this is heinous immorality. hurt by this." By funding such a group and refusing to Reedy feels the petition has influenced give us (FPLA) any money, the SABC has the way he is viewing COPE's own appeal certainly taken a pro-abortion stance." for additional funds. "The questions I asked the COPE people when they appealed arose from what the Pro-Life people said." Glynn said several copies of the petition had been circulated. Members of the FPLA collected the student signatures, and Cam- pus Ministries Director Peter Conroy brought by Maria Basile went out of business after roller skaters and it to the attention of the Jesuit community. What do you remember of the 1964-65 the elements corroded the terrazzo floor Conroy is also moderator of the FPLA. World's Fair in Queens? Maybe you and the stained-glass roof was chipped Conroy explained his involvement in the remember the crowds of people as you apart. And it looks like another building petition matter as simply posting the petition waited for a chance to ride a boat through will soon be gone. in Faber Hall, the main Jesuit residence on Walt Disney's "It's a Small World" exhibit Congress appropriated $530,000 for the campus. or to travel the swift monorail, an example demolition of the United States Pavilion, The FPLA has been unsuccessful three of future sleekness. Maybe you remember an eight-story structure covering an area times previously in its attempts to receive the fantasy world of streamers and domes, almost an entire city block long. The money from the SABC. It is a group of waterfalls, flowered plazas, and traveling General Services Administration, the fede- about forty students whose purpose is to musicians dressed in national costumes. ral agency in charge of government "dedicate and commit ourselves to the You probably stood in awe looking up at buildings, gave final approval October 7 to conviction that a human life in its essence, in the giant Unisphere, or the arch with its a $147,000 low bid by a New England every aspect and in ever]/ age, must be theme, "Peace through Understanding." building corporation to tear down the protected, enhanced, loved, and embraced by every member of the human communi- Today if you go back to Flushing structure which attracted 55 million visitors ty." Glynn maintains, however, that the Meadows-Corona Park in Queens you'd during the World's Fair. group is "educational, and not political." need to think hard to remember what it The site would be seeded and returned The decision on funds for FPLA was was like. The Unisphere still stands, but to its original park condition. postponed twice already, but is expected to surrounding it are the desolate remains of The official contract is the culmination of be announced next Tuesday. If the funding that dream world of the sixties, silent a series of defeats which a coalition of is approved, the SABC might be faced with except for the graffiti that shouts from community groups has been fighting for another problem, whether or not a pro-abor- scrawled walls. the last ten years. In a Ram interview, David Oats, president of the Flushing tion group would also have to be funded if No more are there long lines of kids or they appealed. Reedy said that 'this would ponies to ride or innovative exhibits that Meadows Corona Park World's Fair As- sociation, discussed the opposition he and The Maf OOII be a legal problem and lawyers would have can place you anywhere you want to be, VICE PRESIDENT CRAWLEY : to be consulted before a decision was made.' past, present, or future. Gone are the other community leaders have fought. The SABC will review its policy on Vice President for Student Affairs Kodak buildings, and the Bell Systems What follows is his account: funding groups that espouse political Wlliam Crawley said the SABC is currently ride. The New York State Pavilion, with its continued on page 8 causes, including the Pro-Life Alliance reconsidering its option to fund any political marble-floor map of the United States and The Democratic and Republican clubs continued on page 4 The Ram Thursday, November 11,1976 Page 2 NEWS-ROUNDUP Phonothon Gannon Debate Bubble gum. Abortion. Treepruners. and best novice negative speaker in Baseball. Consumer protection. Those are debate. the kinds of things that are winning for the Gannon Debate will compete at South- ern Connecticut State College this week- by William Bole Gannon Debate team this year. Last weekend, Gannon swept the Sus- end, and in December at Montclair State The University's annual phonothon pro- quehanna Invitational, taking six trophies, College, in New Jersey. gram began last Sunday at Rose Hill with including first place in the all-around an overflow of volunteers from various sweepstakes. Individual winners were Jodi student clubs and groups. Fordham alumni Liss, first place in oral interpretation; throughout the country are being con- Jackie Meyer, second place in original tacted by phone for contributions which oratory; Bob Emmons, first place in this year will be earmarked mainly for extemporaneous speaking; and Susan student financial aid and scholarships, Grosh, second place in oral interpretation, according to Jim Connel, special projects assistant to the Development office. Last year, the phonothon raised about $76,000. and "we will most likely improve Values Symposium on that total this year," Connel asserted. Connel said that "the volunteers find University President James Finlay will students from all disciplines are invited to attend. that they enjoy themselves tremendously welcome participants next Tuesday to the McGowan said he sees the Values Pro- when the entire club or group lends a Fordham College Values Program Sympo- gram as the "germ for institutional change" hand. Despite the large turnout," he sium on Values and Technology in the within the University. added, "the program still needs support Campus Center ballroom. Following his introduction at 10:30 a.m. from the student body." will be a morning session until 1 p.m. and an This year, the President's Club has afternoon session from 2:30-5 p.m. challenged the alumni of Fordham Univer- Associate Dean of Fordham College and LACs Talent Night sity to a matching grant of $500,000. They Director of the Values Program, Joseph have agreed to match any increased gift or McGowan, said this is the first in a series of Lincoln Center's second annual Talent Ministries with the assistance of the Student any new gifts from those alumni who have academic symposiums which will replace the Night, held on Monday In Pope Audi- Programming Alliance, was held for the not contributed before. Tuesday Club meetings of the past several torium surpassed the usual low expecta- benefit of the Danian Center of Poona, in Telephone communication has proved years. Manoucher Parvin, associate profes- tions inspired by such proceedings. the Dhanbad district of India. The center to be much more effective in gathering sor of economics will chair the symposium. cares for children whose parents are contributions than the standard mailing In presenting speakers from departments This year, Talent Night had perfor- afflicted by leprosy. procedures, Connel stated. By mail, only a of economics, sociology,, philosophy, art mances at 3 and 7 p.m. Rev. Fred Lerro, a Talent Night organi- two or three percent return is expected. history, physics, communications, industrial Producer-director Darryl Cherney, a 1976 graduate of the Liberal Arts College zer, said he did not yet know how much One out of every four alumni contacted by engineering, and banking, the symposium and presently a student in the School of money was raised this year.