Media Release: Prolife NZ
20 May 2010

Prolife NZ is today celebrating the successful affiliation of Prolife Auckland at the University of Auckland.

“We’ve seen the group working hard to affiliate since they first attempted last year, and it’s great to see that they’ve finally succeeded,” says Sargia Harrison, ProLife NZ Vice President.

The group affiliated at the Auckland University Students Association’s (AUSA) student forum on Wednesday the 12th of May, after a strong debate over whether all students should be able to express their views on campus.
The final vote was taken with 89 in favour, 33 opposed, and 10 abstentions.

“We’re looking forward to some healthy discussion and debate over the issue of life, which is important to so many people”, says Ms Harrison. “Prolife NZ and its affiliated groups aren’t aiming to be offensive, or make people feel guilty, but we do want to see both sides of the issue fairly represented.

“One of the best things about these groups is that they bring people together, uniting students to uphold the value of life.”

The affiliation came about after the group overturned a ban against pro-life clubs in March. Since 2002, pro-life clubs only had one opportunity each year to affiliate, while other student groups could affiliate most weeks at a student forum.
“We’re glad this discrimination no longer exists against pro-life students,” says Ms Harrison.

Prolife New Zealand serves to exist as a means of supporting and connecting student groups. Previous campus activities in Christchurch have included the Day of Silent Solidarity, campus talks and discussions, and informational stalls at university clubs days.

ENDS

More Information
Sargia Harrison
0273317597

Media Release: ProLife Auckland
12 May 2010

University of Auckland pro-life group, Prolife Auckland, is today delighted to announce their successful affiliation at the University of Auckland this afternoon.

“We’ve been working to affiliate for over six months,” says Prolife Auckland President Simeon Brown. “It’s been a hard struggle, but we’ve finally succeeded.”

The group affiliated this afternoon at the student association’s (AUSA) forum. Debate occurred over whether the pro-life group should affiliate, with those in favour arguing that all students should have the right to choose what they believe and to express their views on campus.

A vote was taken with 89 votes in favour, 33 opposed and 8 abstentions. With a majority, the pro-life club was affiliated.

This comes on the heels of the group’s recent overturning of a ban against pro-life groups. Since 2002, anyone wanting to start a pro-life club on campus has had only one opportunity every 365 days to try and gain official club status, but any other club simply had to wait seven days to try their hand and chance the odds.

“The ruling had clearly been discriminatory and designed to shut down debate on abortion,” he says. “It was amazing to have overturned it.”

The club now has the status of every other AUSA club, being able to use club space, apply for grants and operate on campus.

“This is a victory for common-sense and freedom of expression more than anything, as well as an acknowledgment that pro-life is a valid perspective”, concludes Mr Brown.

ENDS

More information:
Simeon Brown
021 02724242