Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1995)
Abortion rights topic of speech Tasha Eichenseher Organ ft** Emerald Nightmares of ’‘those pitchy stairs and that dank, dark hall way" that led to the office of an abortionist practicing illegally, haunt Sharry even 30 years after her operation. Sharry. whose last name was not revealed, described in a let ter how no professional doctors in the mid-t950's would termi nate her unwanted pregnancy, which was the result of a brutal rape She had no choice but to risk her life for an abortion when she was 23, Sharry w rote. Kathryn Kotbert, vice-presi dent of the New York City-based Center for Reproductive Uw and Policy, read Sherry'* letter in an emotional speech at the University Law Center Friday. She used the letter to illustrate how women in the past have boon denied reproductive rights by the law. Now women's reproductive rights are being threatened hy violence directed at abortion providers, Kolbert said in her keynote address. The violence, as well ns anti abortionist politicians, is threat ening to bring us back to a time of back-alley abortionists and dirty scalpel*, Koltiert said. Despite great strides made in the 1973 supreme court case Roe v* Wade, membership in pro choice organization* ha* dropp'd since along with the number of hospitals in non urban areas providing abortion services, according to Kolbert Killing abortion clinic employees, harassing doctors who perform abortions and bombing abortion facilities are condoned by people who assoc i ate the violence with a "war" between anti-abortionists and pro-life supporters. Kolbert said "I reject thai description of whal is happening,** said kol hort. who paralleled the vio lence directed a! abortion providers to wife haltering instead. It is all part of a plan to control women, she explained Battered women and abortion ists are caught in the same cycle of self-blame, shame and feeling of powerlessness, she said. People should not feel ashamed about providing and receiving abortions. Halbert said. "In my view it is a neces sary medical prac tic e " Because of consolidated health care agreements, such as the proposed Sac red Heart merg er, women may not roc oive all of the information and services an obstetrician-gynecologist or fam ily practitioner should provide, kolbert said. Kolbert said she was happy to sw the story, "Sacred Heart OK* abortion pact” in Friday's Thr Hegis/rr Guard, which stated the merger would allow doctor* to provide abortion service* She want* to read the fine print, however, before deciding tf the pact i* helping women obtain their full reproductive right*, she said. What is Kolbert s solution to the threat posed bv the anti abortion movement? Keep fighting, she said "The passage of anti-choice luallot measures, parental notifi cation laws and. most alarming, the appointment of anti-choii e federal judges, are frightening signs that the minority voice is feting heard and taken serious ly." Sham wrote "Hut what about the other voices An overwhelming majority of Americans about eight out of 10 - are pro-choice .. Listen to their voices " Kolbert, who spoke at "Women Influencing the Law.'' a conference sponsored by the University School of Law and the Women's Law Forum, was counsel of record in the 1992 Supreme Court Case. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania vs Casey The decision in that case reinforced the Roe \s Wade det ision. Panels discuss women’s legal needs Jennifer Carr Fo> P>e Oepon Daily Emerald Law professors, practitioners, state legislative representatives and women’s rights activists offered encouragement to women and criticized the legal system for not being responsive enough to the legal needs of women in our society at a con ference sponsored by the Women’s Law Forum at the University last weekend. A speech delivered by Kathryn Kolbert. a lawyer and vice president of the Center for Reproductive low A Policy in New York, started the conference on Friday. On Saturday, panel discussions focused on free speech and security at abortion clinics, domestic violence and whether legal professions require women to become more like men in order to succeed. Jude Hanzo. director of the Feminist Women's Health Centers in Eugene and Portland, argued that although our governments have recognized the violence and problems abortion clinics face, they are not taking the escalating violence at clin ics seriously enough. "A lot more needs to be done.” Hanzo said. "Clinics all over the country are under siege." Hanzo discussed the events that led her to obtain an injunction against anti-abortion protesters at the Portland clinic. The injunction created a 25-foot buffer zone around the front entrance to the clinic, which increased the ability of patients to enter and leave without being accosted by protesters Hanzo said her clinic was targeted every day by anti-abortion activists who did more than just (zirry picket signs and yell obscenities at patients. The clinic's electrical and phone wires were cut. a fire was started in its dumpster, its windows were continuously broken and assaults, trespassing and vandalism almost became daily occurrences. One patient almost died while paramedics carried her into an ambulance. "We had to look all around the building before we started work." Hanzo said. "This was a daily thing, and it was not uncommon to find something." Panelists argued that our court systems not only fail to recognize women's rights at abortion clinics but also fail to protttt t women from physical and mental abuse. Caroline Forwll, a University law professor. pr»> stmted a video by Sarah Buel, a prose* utor, law pro fessor and survivor of spousal abuse and spousal beatings. Duel's video said society needs to stop blaming women for staving in abusive relationships and needs to start providing women with informa tion and services they need to esoape Buel said women go back to their partners over and over again because they don't know what else to do. Society has not made it possible for women to escape. Shelters, financial aid and child care are just some of the basic services our communities need to provide to abused women. Forell said she hopes that something will be done about domestic violence now that our cur rent federal and state governments have put crime high on their political agendas Denise Fjordheck, an attorney with the Oregon Department of Justice, Fnvironrnental and Com mercial Litigation Division, argued that not only do women face discrimination in the law but face discrimination as legal professionals as well "Things have gotten easier for women in the legal profession but not better," Fjordheck said. “The number of women lawyers is increasing and the number of women in Judicial and leadership positions has skyrocketed." Fjordheck argued, however, that although women are increasingly present in legal profes sions, they do have to become more like men in order to succeed "You need to be tough, calm, cool, collected, strong, work with men and work twice as hard as a male lawyer." Fjordheck said "Men lawyers will not consider you to be the same or as good as them, but you can intimidate them if you try to he." One difficulty in measuring the level of success is women and men consider success to he different things A current survey, focusing on law students at the University, concluded that women associate success with family and community, whereas with men success means money, position and power. Summer Jobs on Orcas Island KrpmcoiiUm will be on auttpnt om FrK 13-14, 1995 frum 10:00-4:00, in the EMU YMC'A Camp <Jrfcila a mrm hm«| lor all tumnrt (uuIium tuumrkw torn tup kcadm. itlrguanK program and uippoti uaff Itwrf* «r» u* ♦. »mpu» t« t att faf aa app4«at*aa C afl .JOS. Mi far —*nr .Mbnattm. f »* noon M MAI from Jamaica "The Meditations" at (jOOD TIMIS | Tue„ February 14th 8:00 pm $10 cover charge Tickets also available at the EMli Main Desk ~j i tJOODTlMKS 7th A High St • 4&4-71R! FRIDAY mws • mm * *t sir IN THE SPORTS * PROIKHS* STITS EMERALD AIL BIKES ON SALE! (5% OH AU W BikM .** , „ w 10% on ALL 9a Bikm • - — 14> .*»*.*■» It* H «> ‘\ t iV*rM >f%j -V j»i«Nt*.fer tttrxni v j. t t*M%h • *fjrtc -tv. mx 'BIKl IBABNI wwwwww t*mrr ft** n **>*> Coburg Kink) ; tugrnc, Orr-gort J (503)342 6757 3 ■.wmv,w.w.w 00 OFF foot Ion? Sub (*>»*• ***** SUBSHOP 1225 <t ALDER 345-2434 1*04 «**4 Ht om+f 4H44WMI 9* t«#«M Mo» >•» 1«m» \)rm*Ui nM» «r« . Ium u*r* tr« “31 years of Quality Service" Mercedes • BMW • Volkswagen Audi • Datsun • Toyota 342 2912 2025 Franklin Blvd. -GERMAN AUTO SERVICE, INC. Eugene, Oregon, 97402 for Valentines Da\ Roses, Roses, Roses *2.(KVM9.9S Fragrant Spring Bouquets ’6.9S-‘9.95 Best Selection of Flowers in Town Kiufifm kfycm* On i jrnpus I Mil A KiixjkI • Sih v M irfict • ,1-ith A Kirn.-ml < >nk-r Eurty -iws -k>V> • CJur^c n Discard your old and tired Batteries This week only. Feb. 13-17, drop off your used household batteries in a battery recycling bucket. You can find them at all residence hall area desks near the junk mail recycling bins, and in the EMU by Suite One. Spon*o»»d by C ampul (Jwcycmo onO fnv*orvr«n*Qt tttuet CorrvTynwo
