TodayHead of ACLU targets issues facing women
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Article RatingNadine Strossen's visit to Shippensburg University brought together college students and the community for a discussion on a wide range of topics facing women.
The program last Wednesday was part of Women's History Month. The Shippensburg University Women's Department hosted Strossen, the president of the American Civil Liberties Union, giving students a chance to ask questions to someone who has defended free speech across the country.
“Activism is the rent I pay to live on this planet. To that, I say amen Š you can't be an activist without being an optimist,” Strossen said.
Being the first female president of the ACLU has involved Strossen in landmark court cases and famous liberty disputes since 1991, when she took over.
“When I was in law school, abortion was still illegal,” Strossen said. “The ACLU argued the very first case that women have the right to an abortion.”
Issues are universal
Strossen's experience was one of the many reasons that Nicolette Yevich, Shippensburg University's Women's Center director, felt students would be eager to hear what Strossen had to say.
“These are issues that affect everyone, especially in the area of reproductive rights,” Yevich said. “We're providing activism opportunities for students. Nothing will change unless people get outraged.”
Strossen recounted stories of the ACLU defending people such as Rush Limbaugh and Fred Phelps, a controversial Baptist minister from Kansas. The ACLU feels that defending someone's right to free speech trumps any personal feelings one might have.
“I don't necessarily agree with all the issues the ACLU defends, but it takes a brave leader to defend the American ideals set forth by the founding fathers,” said Scott Hoffman, a 20-year-old Shippensburg University student.
Defending free speech is only half the fight for Strossen, who feels that some women have become lax in standing up for equal rights. She laid out four major areas where there is need for reform within the United States - employment, violence against women, criminal justice and education - with details backing up each example.
“Women are still under-represented in too many areas of public and professional life,” Strossen said. “Women still occupy some of the least desirable jobs, and women have been the fastest growing portion of the prison population.”
Strossen also criticized the Bush administration and the actions of Congress over the past several years, referring to President Bush's abstinence education programs in public schools as “ignorance-only” programs, and blasted the pro-choice contingent for attacking women's rights.
Values common ground
Still, she urged both sides to find common ground.
“For all the differences between pro-choice and pro-life groups, they do share some common concerns. For example, reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies,” Strossen said.
Strossen entertained questions from a variety of students, professors and members of the community after her speech, on topics ranging from specific free speech cases to flag burning.
She even discussed her involvement with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
“I'm not a member of the organization for drug use of my own. I defend gays and lesbians and I'm heterosexual. I defend minorities and I'm white. People have the right to do what they want to their bodies,” Strossen said.
While covering an array of issues in less than two hours, Strossen was also gave plenty of advice to Shippensburg University students on the importance of activism and civil liberties.
