In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision a new campus organization, VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, is celebrating by showing a movie.
VOX will present the film "The Cider House Rules" at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Ohio Union Conference Theater. The group will provide an anniversary cake and conduct a short discussion after the film.
Sally Kitch, professor of women's studies and faculty advisor for VOX, said the movie points out the compatibility of reverence for life with reproductive choice.
"We welcome people with all views, but we want them to be polite and good-willed during discussion," said Kitch. "There is always a possibility people will come to exploit the event."
As advisor, Kitch helps with decisions on public programs and assists in making the group educational and active.
VOX, which is the Latin word for "voice," is affiliated with Planned Parenthood. The VOX organization is a national non-profit group which works to expand reproductive health for men and women.
"VOX is the first organization to be dedicated to women's reproductive health," said Patricia Klein, VOX member and campus organizer for NARAL Pro-Choice America.
According to Klein, the OSU chapter of VOX started in the fall of 2002 and has a membership of 15 people and about 45 people on its e-mail list.
VOX is supported by another new campus organization called Feminists Legal Action Group.
"FLAG works along with VOX, and we support each other and attend each other's events," said Jessica Veneskey, executive committee for FLAG and VOX member.
Both organizations help each other raise awareness about reproductive rights and improve access to reproductive health services on campus. The groups also share concern for what is happening in Washington.
Klein pointed out that there is a 5-4 majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices that support Roe v. Wade decision. She said VOX members are "scared" that President Bush will appoint an anti-choice justice and Roe will be overturned.
VOX members maintain a strong opinion on pro-choice legislation, but want people to know that they are not anti-religion.
"We are pro-life and pro-choice," Klein said. "We are good people, and we do good things."
Veneskey has the same view as well.
"There are so many children born unwanted or in poverty, and we want every child to be born to a parent that wants them," she said.
VOX plans to conduct more events within the upcoming months to raise awareness for women's rights and health issues.
More information on VOX and on Wednesday's event can be found at www.service.ohio-state.edu/students/vox.
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