Students coming to and from classes in Wells Hall on Monday received a stern warning of the images they were about to witness.
However the orange signs reading, “Warning Genocide Pictures Ahead” placed in the courtyard behind Wells Hall and the International Center could do little to prepare them.
The Genocide Awareness Project, organized by MSU Students for Life and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, came to campus armed with photographs depicting the remains of aborted fetuses side by side with historical examples of genocide.
The exhibit will run until 4 p.m. today in the courtyard adjacent to Wells Hall and the International Center.
The shock value of the exhibit, which includes victims of the Holocaust, Rwandan and Cambodian massacres, was used primarily to educate, said Mark Harrington, Midwest region director for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform .
The pro-life, nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles travels to universities across the country displaying these images. It has made its way through half of the Big Ten campuses, including the University of Michigan.
MSU Students for Life member Joy Yearout said she shares the same goal as Harrington although there was apprehension among Students for Life before they decided to bring the exhibit to MSU.
“The main goal is to stimulate discussion on campus and get people thinking about how they feel about the abortion issue,” the political theory junior said. “We would really like to get men thinking about it. A lot of guys think its not their issue when in reality they can take a stance.”
Students like Koksal Karakus, a mathematics graduate student, took notice throughout the day.
“I think what they do is right,” Karakus said. “I don’t like (the photographs), but I like how (organizers) don’t say anything that is wrong.”
As the day went on, some students accepted pamphlets and flyers while others responded with disapproving banter.
But Monday’s demonstration went into the afternoon with little trouble.
“It’s been very calm, nobody has been over here picketing,” MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. “They’re just over there raising hands and asking questions.”
Although there weren’t any violent protests, many in the crowd voiced opposing opinions.
Todd Kundrat, was one of the passing students who debated with volunteers over the circumstances leading to abortion.
Kundrat, an astrophysics sophomore, said he believes that although the group has a right to express themselves, the presentation was one-sided.
“It is good that they are portraying their knowledge and opinion in order for others to make a decision,” he said. “If someone bases their decision on this, it’s not giving them the option to think for themselves. Its putting one idea in their head.”
