Unborn Week
Unborn Week is sponsored by the Calvin College Republicans (CCR)
“The issue of life has been put on the back burner at Calvin,” said Jared Rispens, a CCR chair and coordinator of the event. “We talk so much about global warming and Focus the Nation, and that’s important. But there’s a fundamental issue we forget about: the slaughter of human life—millions each year.”
“We believe the majority of Calvin students really do believe in pro life,” said Erik De Vries, secretary of the same organization, “but there’s a general level of apathy. We really believe there’s a great need to talk about these issues, get some dialogue going and share the facts.”
Unborn Week will kick off with a lecture on neonatal development and medical ethics by Dr. John Anema at 4 p.m., Monday, February 25 in the Alumni Association Board Room (AABR).
Christina Malone, former director of the Alpha Women’s Center, will speak at 4 p.m., Tuesday, February 26 in the (AABR). “She’s going to be talking about the resources available to a woman who is having a crisis pregnancy,” De Vries said. “She’s also going to talk about actual abortion procedures. We felt that this was a mature discussion and one that is okay for students to have.
Suanne Thompson of National Right to Life will speak at 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 in the AABR about what can be done to change abortion law. “Everybody is agreed that it can’t be done overnight,” De Vries said. “It has to be a gradual and sustained process. That’s the most political of the talks we are sponsoring during Unborn Week.”
Nancy Williman of Bethany Christian Services will share on “The Adoption Option” at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 28, in the Commons Lecture Hall. “She’ll talk on the joy of adoption and the logistics of it as well,” said De Vries.
The final event of Unborn Week will be a showing of “Bella” at 8 p.m., Friday, February 29 in the Bytwerk Video Theater. “It’s a new film that tells the story of an unwanted pregnancy, the issues with that and the joys of adoption,” said Rispens. The film event is co-sponsored by Calvin’s Film Arts Committee.
The student organizers said that the title “Unborn Week” was inspired by “Unlearn Week,” Calvin’s annual exploration of anti-racism and diversity issues. “We thought it had a nice tone and buzz to it,” Rispens complimented the original title.
And though Unborn Week is sponsored by the Calvin College Republicans, that group is emphatic that it has not been planned as a partisan event. “All Christians should be able to say, ‘Yes, I’m pro-life,’” said Rispens.
