Letters to the editor

October 12, 2009
by Online Staff | SacCityExpress.com

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

While reading through your article, I couldn’t help but notice that you wrote that the Sacramento City College Health Services Department took sides and set up a booth to oppose the anti-abortion display on Sept. 17. The Express newspaper reported that the Health Department “felt that it was unfair that the group ran unopposed.”

While the Health Department claims to be fair in its presentation, the information provided at the table was clearly biased. In the campus-based Health Department’s one-sided exhibit, the pro-abortion views of Planned Parenthood are clearly endorsed. This is unlike the campus-based Associated Student Government, which has endorsed a position of neutrality on the topic, encouraging and vigorously defending the rights of each side to express themselves.

While the Health Department used taxpayer dollars to support a one sided abortion agenda, the ASG did not spend a single dime supporting either side.

The SCC Health Department’s Web site advocates that students use family planning services, such as abortion, from Planned Parenthood. The Web site directs students to four separate Planned Parenthood locations, and does not include even one alternative family planning service that does not support abortion.

I find it at least ironic that a public institution would endorse the use of abortion and then claim that other groups are being unfair by presenting a view that is not in support of abortion.

In the interest of fairness, the ASG has approved plans to invite both anti-abortion and pro-abortion groups onto campus. Will the Health Department do the same? The Health Department will cease to be biased when they provide information in support of abortion and also against abortion.

Steve Macias

ASG President

RE: “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” Sept. 29

I am writing you to take issue with the article entitled “Anti-abortion display ignites debate on campus.” I am glad that the Express did cover the story; however, I am disappointed that it did not cover the entire story and in so doing ultimately failed to convey the true concerns of the student body regarding the events in question.

One of the “missing” important items that I feel needs mentioning regards the physical threats that were made to students on the days of the events. Students were threatened regarding their sexual orientation, as well as regarding their religious beliefs. There is currently an open investigation on the part of the LRCCPD (Los Rios Community College Police Department) regarding the threats that were made that day.

Another “missing” item from the article regards the brochures that were handed out to students. These were handed out based on race. There was a brochure for those of African American descent, Latino descent, Asian decent and so on.

Finally, there is a lot of “talk” about the true intentions of our current ASG President, Steve Macias, regarding the event in question. There has been a lot of open conversation regarding his actions and his motives in his administration of the ASG.

Macias states in an email sent to ASG student affairs commissioner Monica Guzman, “You, as an ally along side Justin (Turner), Jeanette (Carpenter) and our other fellow Republican officers need to band together and force this board to work as a unit.”

It is my sincere hope that going forward, the Express newspaper will do whatever necessary to cover the entire story when it is of the magnitude that this story is. Thank you for your time.

Tiffany Lange

City College Student