National Campus Life Network

Press Release

 CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RAISE AWARENESS ON SEX-SELECTION

 TORONTO, ON (March 12 2013) – This semester, university students across Canada are raising awareness about sex-selection through the DefendGirls campaign, brought to campuses through National Campus Life Network (NCLN). Through resources, activities and events, including the screening of the award winning documentary ‘It’s a Girl’, thousands of students are being reached with the message that “’It’s a girl’ should not be a death sentence”.  This week, events in BC will also feature MP Mark Warawa speaking about Motion 408 following screenings of the documentary.

 “The goal is to raise awareness on campus as well as to build support for the condemnation of this practice by the Canadian parliament,” states Rebecca Richmond, Executive Director of NCLN, which has coordinated the efforts of these students and produced the resources being distributed. 

 Although sex-selective abortion has garnered attention because of the severe sex ratio imbalances in China and India, recent evidence has shown that the practice is occurring in Canada as well.  A 2012 CBC investigation found that many ultrasound clinics will disclose preborn children’s sex early on, knowing that sex-selective abortion may be procured as a result.[1]  Research has also demonstrated that there are sex ratio discrepancies in certain Canadian communities.[2]

 “This is an issue that resonates with the youth,” comments Anastasia Pearse, Western Campus Coordinator of NCLN.  “Gender equality is an important value to Canadians and sex-selection is completely opposed to that value. We are pleased to see students taking up this campaign with so much enthusiasm.”

 Along with 17 screenings of the ‘It’s a Girl’ documentary, thousands of DefendGirls info cards and drop cards have been distributed and thousands more will be in the weeks to come.  Laptop stickers and t-shirts have been used to increase awareness on campus; the message has also reached thousands more via social media campaigns on Facebook

 “Killing girls because of their gender really is the ultimate war on women,” continues Richmond.  “By bringing this campaign and the documentary to campus we hope to move students to defend girls at all stages of life. ‘It’s a girl’ should not be a death sentence.”

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More information on these resources, produced by National Campus Life Network, can be found at: www.ncln.ca/resources/defendgirls

 For a listing of ‘It’s a Girl’ screenings, please visit: www.ncln.ca/blog/defendgirlsoncampus

 For further comment please contact:

 Rebecca Richmond, Executive Director of the National Campus Life Network, director@ncln.ca, 416 388 0461.

 Anastasia Pearse, Western Campus Coordinator of the National Campus Life Network,westerncanada@ncln.ca, 604 365 3484.

 ¹CBC, “Fetal gender testing offered at private clinics,” June 12 2012, <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/06/12/ultrasound-gender-testing.html>.

 ² Dr. Rajendra Kale, “ ‘It’s a girl!’ – could be a death sentence.”Canadian Medical Association Journal March 6, 2012 vol. 184 no. 4. First published January 16, 2012, <www.cmaj.ca/content/184/4/387.full?sid=9e06cf2c-765f-46b6-a23d-ce829ad37c79>.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kwantlen Student Association Rescinds Earlier Decision and Grants Pro-Life Club Status

LANGLEY, B.C. (December 6 2012) – In the midst of preparing to file a lawsuit against their student association for discrimination, the pro-life student group at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in B.C. has been granted full club status.

The Runner, the Kwantlen student newspaper, reported that the Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) reversed its earlier decision during a two-hour in-camera session on December 5th, and has now granted Protectores Vitae (Protectors of Life) formal status as a campus club. The specific content of any motions from the meeting was not made available, nor was the record of how the individual board members voted. Oliver Capko, the president of Protectores Vitae, was contacted later that evening by Christopher Girodat, the Chairperson of the KSA Executive Committee, who informed him of the decision.

“I am relieved that the issue has been resolved,” said Oliver. “After working towards this all semester, it is great to finally be accepted and treated like other clubs on campus.”

This decision by the Kwantlen Student Association was a reversal of its November 9th decision, which rejected the group’s application on the grounds that it conflicted with the student union’s pro-choice policy on abortion. Protectores Vitae secured legal representation from the Justice Centre, and demanded that the student association rescind their decision and, when the KSA did not, Protectores Vitae prepared to file a lawsuit.

“The Justice Centre has invested a lot of time in legal research and preparing the court documents, but we are happy that it will not be necessary to commence a court action against this discrimination,” stated Calgary lawyer John Carpay, President of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

“This has not been the first time such discrimination against pro-life groups has happened on university campuses,” commented Anastasia Pearse on behalf of the National Campus Life Network. “We hope that other student associations will learn from Kwantlen’s example so that this won’t happen again.”

The students of Protectores Vitae, who are currently in the midst of exam season, plan to begin club activities on campus in the New Year.

“Now that we no longer have to fight against discrimination, we can actually focus on why we wanted to start this club in the first place,” said Oliver. “It’s important that bioethical issues, like abortion, are raised on campus and we look forward to being part of that conversation here at Kwantlen.”

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For media requests, please contact:

John Carpay, President, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, 403-619-8014 or jcarpay@jccf.ca

Anastasia Pearse, National Campus Life Network, westerncanada@ncln.ca, 604 365 3484

Oliver Capko, President Protectores Vitae, kwantlenprotectoresvitae@hotmail.com, http://kwantlenprotectoresvitae.ncln.ca/

From the website of Protectores Vitae:

If you would like to express your support for Protectores Vitae, you can write to the Executive of the Kwantlen Student Association. (Please keep emails civil. Thank you.)

Director of External Affairs: Arzo Ansary — external@kusa.ca
Director of Student Services: Cristopher Girodat – services@kusa.ca
Director of Student Life: Amrit Mahil — studentlife@kusa.ca
Director of Finance: Tony Chiao — finance@kusa.ca

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kwantlen Pro-Life Student Group Denied Right to Exist on their University Campus

LANGLEY, B.C. (November 27 2012) – Students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University have obtained legal representation to fight a recent rejection by the student union of their application to form a pro-life club on campus.

The Kwantlen Student Association (KSA), which represents the students from the university’s four Vancouver Metro area campuses, explained its decision by stating that the creation of the Protectores Vitae club “is clearly against our own standing policy on Abortion and a Woman’s Right to Choose.”

“We’re very disappointed,” said Oliver Capko, president of the pro-life group. “Our student association is supposed to represent us and not censor us for having a different position.”

“They are in violation of their own policies,” stated Anastasia Pearse, the Western Campus Coordinator for National Campus Life Network, an organization which supports pro-life students across Canada. “Their own policy states that the association can’t censor or interfere with a club, even if it disagrees with its beliefs. Free speech and debate, even on controversial issues, should not be stifled at a university simply because those in positions of authority are pro-choice.”

It also appears that the association may have made amendments on October 26 to Article 2 of its Club Procedures Policy in an attempt to create a stronger basis for denying status. The changes significantly increased the ways in which the student association could justify the denial of club recognition.

The club is demanding that the Kwantlen Student Association grant them status. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) has taken the case and is acting on behalf of Protectores Vitae.

“We sincerely hope that it will not be necessary for Mr. Capko and other students to sue the KSA,” said John Carpay, lawyer and President of the JCCF. “The student union has no legal authority to impose its own views about a moral or political issue on all students by denying club status to students who disagree with the student union. The student union has an obligation to treat all students equally and fairly, without denying the right of students to freely associate on the Kwantlen campus and form the clubs of their own choosing.”

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For media requests, please contact:

Oliver Capko, President Protectores Vitae, kwanlenprotectoresvitae@hotmail.com, 604-772-1156

John Carpay, President, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, 403-619-8014 or jcarpay@jccf.ca

Further details can be found on the club’s website.  

To support free speech at Kwantlen, click here.

Kimberley Milousis, Founding Leader of Simply You, is giving you the opportunity to purchase Simply You’s exquisite selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings* while also supporting National Campus Life Network.

25% of all sales between now and midnight on December 10th will go to National Campus Life Network to help us educate, network and support pro-life students on campuses across Canada. 

Simply You: A Canadian-based company offering ultra-chic jewelry handcrafted with elements such as freshwater pearls, glass cut crystals, cubic zirconia gemstones and semi-precious gemstones such as turquoise and jasper. Also available are sterling silver charms, charm bracelets and charm necklaces.

Pull out your Christmas list, start browsing online and checking off names! You’ll find many gift ideas for your wife, girlfriend, fiancé, sister, friends, daughter, mom … any lady in your life!

Order deadline: December 10^th, midnight

How to order :

1. Browse online at www.kimberley.mysimplyyou.com & view the December Promotions

2. Confirm order one of THREE ways:

• Checkout online using this code: 9200
• Email the item information with 9200 in the title to Kimberley: kimberley.milousis@gmail.com.
• Call Kimberley and mention NCLN: 647-896-3296.

Payment: Credit card or Email Money Transfer.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask Kimberley for recommendations or about how to order etc.

Visit Kimberley’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SimplyKimberley

Share this with your friends and family!

*ALL SIMPLY YOU JEWELRY IS LEAD-FREE, NICKEL-FREE, AND HYPO-ALLERGENIC.

Consider donating directly to NCLN as we prepare for an exciting new year!

…is a new organization called the Alliance of Pro-Life Students (APS).  Their mission is to “build university communities in England, Scotland and Wales that have a lasting and profound respect for human life from fertilisation to natural death.”

More pro-life societies (i.e. clubs) have been popping up on the universities within the UK and the Alliance of Pro-Life Students, formed by current and former students leaders from a number of these societies, will be:

Building pro-life societies by encouraging students of all religious backgrounds and none to start their own societies.

Supporting pro-life societies by: providing educational resource packs and databases of speakers and reliable sources; helping with event organisation and networking; standing up for the rights of pro-life students to peacefully speak out on life ethics.

Connecting pro-life students: with each other online through our website forum and face-to-face with specialist training days; with other pro-life organisations for internships and volunteering opportunities.

 APS’ first launch event is only ONE WEEK AWAY and we are wishing them all the best as they work to build, support, and connect pro-life post-secondary students in their nation.

Rebecca (on left) and Eve Farren of the Alliance of Pro-Life Students during their meeting this summer.

Our Central Office had the pleasure of meeting with Eve Farren, APS’ Executive Director, this summer (see photo below).  We have since enjoyed staying in touch to talk strategy and share ideas.  And, although many differences exist between the UK and Canada, we found we share a lot in common, including facing similar obstacles on campus.  We look forward to staying in contact and continuing to build this international relationship.  We may be separated by an ocean, but we are united in the cause to bring the pro-life message to the environment that needs it most: university campuses. Find APS on Facebook. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Campus Life Network joins in declaration of support for Motion 312

September 19, 2012

Toronto, ON – Dozens of Canadian organizations and individuals, including National Campus Life Network (NCLN), have united to sign a Declaration of Support for Parliamentary Study of Canada’s Legal Definition of “Human Being”.

This Declaration affirms support for Motion 312 and the establishment of a special committee to review the definition of ‘human being’ in subsection 223 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Currently the Criminal Code defines a child as a human being only “when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother.”

“All one has to do is open an embryology textbook to see that the current law simply doesn’t fit the facts,” states Rebecca Richmond, NCLN’s Executive Director. “An examination of current medical knowledge on the subject by Parliament is long overdue.”

The Declaration states, “The current definition was first enacted in Canada in 1892, founded in concepts argued before the courts and the Parliament of England more than three centuries prior, and does not reflect the medical and scientific knowledge acquired over the last century. Given the high value human life is given in our society, as reflected in our social policies and Criminal Code, it is essential that the Parliament of Canada provide clarity in the law on this point which impacts parental choice, biomedical research, medical practice and matters being brought before the courts of the nation.”

The second hour of debate on Motion 312 will take place this Friday. NCLN urges Canadians to voice their support for this motion by contacting their MPs.

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The full declaration can be found here.

National Campus Life Network exists to educate, network and support pro-life post-secondary students across Canada. For media inquiries, please contact Rebecca Richmond, Executive Director, at director@ncln.ca or 416 483 7869.

We asked a few students from last year’s Symposium to share their thoughts with us on their experiences.

Matthew Cram, University of Toronto Students for Life

I thought the Symposium was absolutely fantastic.  It was a great opportunity to great way to brush up on the issues, see some inspiring speakers and get new ideas for events to take back to our campuses – ideas that would never have  otherwise occurred to me. The Symposium offered helpful advice and invaluable support for everything from complex apologetic to the basics of how to strike up a conversation in a crowd.  But I think that the thing I enjoyed most about the symposium was the opportunity to meet other people with their new fresh perspectives on the fight for life. So often on campuses we feel as if we are in the extreme minority and that is why it was such a great experience to see that people just like me from all over the country, each with something new to bring to the discussion, whether it was a new idea for an event or a new take on an argument.  The symposium helped me make great connections to other pro life clubs across the country and helped me make a whole lot of new friends as well. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants advice on how to take the pro life message to their campus.

Erin Murphy, Brock Students for Life

I’ve been Pro-Life my whole life, knowing that abortion was not the answer to any problem. But it wasn’t until I attended the Symposium that I truly became Pro-Life. It was then when I heard, “If you actually believe that abortion is murder, how should you act?”. It was then that it clicked. I couldn’t be Pro-Life and stand by the sidelines anymore. I had to stand up, get the courage and fight for the innocent babies being murdered.

I highly recommend attending this Symposium. It helped give me the courage and skills I need to raise awareness about the genocide taking place in my own backyard.

Rebecca Groen, University of the Fraser Valley Life Link

Attending NCLN’s National Symposium was such a rewarding experience for me. Not only did I get to meet university students from across Canada who were also excited for the pro-life movement, I also gained valuable training from the many speakers that spent time with us that weekend. I established contacts from around my area, and together we  collaborated for Life Week! NCLN made sure we didn’t go home empty-handed, either. They had many resources available for us to take home to get our club started. I am thankful for Abbotsford Right to Life who provided us with funding to be able to participate in this event. 

James Vanderhorst, University of the Fraser Valley Life Link

This symposium was a crash course in how to be a pro-life advocate. It will equip you to do pro-life work and will leave you with a passion to defend the unborn. You’ll meet some great people and you’ll learn some great things.

Josie (on right) with Anastasia Pearse (centre) and Kathleen Dunn (left).

By Josie Wichrowski, NCLN Summer Intern 2012
As my internship is coming to a close, I reflect on the last three months of my summer working for NCLN. There have been some amazing highlights such as: participating in CCBR’s Abortion Caravan Launch in Vancouver, attending Signal Hill’s Focus on Life Gala dinner, and taking part in an NCLN training program in Burlington ON with the rest of the NCLN staff team. Overall, I cannot say enough how much my training impacted me and how grateful I am to the staff at NCLN for the internship opportunity. I am convinced that my week of training in Burlington equipped me with the knowledge and tools I needed to have a successful summer working for NCLN, and the research and assignments I did over this summer definitely equipped me to better help my peers as I head back to school this fall, where I will continue being active in the pro-life movement on my  campus.  I am really excited to return to school and give back all that I have learned this summer.

This summer I have learned not only about the work NCLN does, but also about the pro-life movement as a whole. I found it truly remarkable how many pro-life organizations are working towards building a culture of life in our country. But,  even more remarkable is how NCLN is the only organization that specifically caters to university students and campus clubs in Canada.

Therefore, I urge you, if you are an executive member with your campus club this year, or will be one in the future, make sure to take advantage of the NCLN Campus Coordinator nearest to you! If you ever need a guiding hand to help you make an impact on campus, don’t hesitate to contact NCLN. As I have gotten to know them personally, I can vouch that they are very friendly people!

Secondly, try and make a point of attending their Annual National Symposium in Toronto, where you will receive pro-life training and hear amazing pro-life speakers. It is also a unique opportunity to meet other pro-life student leaders across the country in the same shoes as you—I wish I had attended when I was at Capilano University!

Thank you NCLN for my internship, and for continuing to work towards equipping students so that the pro-life message is heard on our campuses. I hope that NCLN will continue to grow and make an even bigger impact for years to come!

Thank you!

Johanna Miller Delp

Attended the Symposium in 2004

Graduate of McMaster University, President of McMaster Lifeline 2005-2007

NCLN President 2008-2010

Currently resides in Wisconsin with her husband and daughter .  Volunteers with 40 Days for Life and the local pregnancy centre.