When the body becomes ‘something political’
By Madeline Cohen
■ The Miscellany News
Vassar College
Women under the age of 25 represent the first gen
eration of women who have never known life without
the option of safe, legal abortion. Many wonder how
this affects their views.
So, Wendy Wasserman, a senior at Vassar College,
and Veena Cabreros-Sud. a recent Columbia U. grad
uate, are editing a book they call “a histone blueprint
about what our generation feels about reproductive
rights.”
Wasserman became interested in compiling such a
chronicle while working for Representative Fat
Schroeder, D-Colo. She then began consulting for
Students Organizing Students, a national reproduc
tive-rights activist group
SOS was formed by students from colleges around
the country, including Columbia U. and Rutgers U.,
who realized that although college-age students statis
tically have more abortions than any other group, they
I-. . . ------:-:-1 ..
u
mmmm
Wendy Wasserman and Vaena Cabraros-Sud are co-editing a
chronicle about this generation's views on reproductive rights.
are often ignored The organization is now sponsoring
the publication.
The book will consist of writings by college, high
school andjunior high school students. Wasserman and
Cabreros-Sud have been meeting with publishers, gen
erating funds and soliciting articles since last year
Submissions are due by the end of this month
Wasserman said she is targeting not only average
women, but also troubled and underprivileged women
by posting requests for articles at homeless shelters
and havens for runaways.
“We hope to take the project into the streets,' she said,
in an effort to create a ‘completely diverse’ picture
Response so far has been favorable, and the students
have received assistance from as far away as
Jerusalem, where an Israeli women’s network is
spreading news of the plans for publication
The subject of reproductive rights does not just relate
to abortion, Wasserman said. ‘It's a whole gamut of
other things,” including sex education, pre- and post
natal care, and birth control access
Those rights, said Cabreros-Sud, include‘not just the
ability to control your own body, but the right to be able
to feed, clothe, house and take care of your children
without being penalized because you're a woman "
Along the way to reaching her goals, Wasserman said
she hopes to open some eyes and educate the unin
formed. “What reproductive rights means to me is that
the body becomes something political,” she said
Liability
Continued from page 20
catch another football, help another
youth, and most importantly, celebrate
another holiday with Tashawnda.
He was also lucky he went to a small
school like Long Beach State — a school
where winning on the football field
doesn’t translate into millions of dollars
worth of revenue.
But there are others who haven't been
so lucky. Loyola Marymount U. basket
ball player Hank Gathers collapsed on
the court last spring and died of a mas
sive heart attack shortly thereafter
No one was, or probably ever will be,
held legally responsible for his death.
And maybe no one should be.
But looking back, one has to wonder if
winning athletic games (and thus col
lecting millions of dollars) at larger,
Division I universities, such as LM U, has
become more important than the safety,
and sometimes the lives, of the players
themselves.
RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAININ G CORPS
CASH IN ON
GOOD GRADES.
If you're a freshman or sophomore with good
grades, apply now for a three-year or two year
scholarship From Army ROTC
Army ROTC scholarships pay tuition, most
books and fees, plus $ 100 per school month. They
also pay off with leadership experience and officer
credentials impressive to future employers.
Tb apply, contact the Professor of Military
Science at your campus or one nearby
ARMY ROTC
THE SMARTEST COLLEGE
COURSE YOU CAN TAKE.