An anti-abortion group will erect a twenty-foot tower covered in graphic images comparing abortion to the Holocaust on campus Wednesday.
The group, known as the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, will be on the EMU lawn for a national tour called the “Genocide Awareness Project.” The tower will advocate for its message of “prenatal justice and the right to life for the unborn,” according to its website.
In response, the university is preparing its counseling offices to help students who may have emotional traumatization.
Despite the graphic nature of their display, CBR’s demonstration is protected under the First Amendment. Laurie Woodward, the EMU’s director, says that as long as a group files the proper paperwork, they have the right to use public space.
“Our job is to be content neutral because we’re a public space on a public campus,” Woodward said. “We book groups on whether or not they meet criteria.”
The UO is not the group’s first stop in the Eugene area — the tower’s graphic images were on display at Lane Community College (LCC) last Monday and Tuesday.
According to KVAL, the demonstrators were met by student protestors at LCC. One student, Eric Howanietz, said that he was notified only one day ahead of the group’s arrival. Howanietz expressed frustration with the group’s methods.
“For an outside organization to come into our town, into our community college — to do this is just uncalled for,” he said to KVAL. “These people are cowards in my mind.”
Although the group has toured other colleges in the Pacific Northwest such as Boise State University, two schools in Utah — Weber State University and Salt Lake Community College — the tour continues to Washington and Oregon, to colleges such as Evergreen State College, Portland State University and LCC.
Kris Winter, the dean of students, says that the wellbeing of students is the school’s number one priority.
“Just because the group has the freedom to speak doesn’t mean students are obligated to go,” Winter said. “Our main concern is students’ safety.”
Here is the full list of free speech guidelines from the Safety and Risk Resources website:

Printed Material

• Most building walls and campus fixtures, as well as most bulletin boards, are regulated. Building or department operators may determine what content may be approved (i.e., material related to a particular program, or published by university groups for a university audience). Unapproved or unrelated material may be removed.
• Material may not contain “true” threats of violence.

Demonstrations

• May not interfere with scheduled university activities (such as classes or events)
• May not block doors, hallways, stairways, fire exits, fire lanes, or public rights of way including streets, sidewalks, etc.
• May not pose a threat to health and safety
• May not result in damage, loss, theft or vandalism of property
• May not exceed safe occupancy capacity in a room (Oregon Fire Code, Sections 104.1, 107.5, 107.6)
• May not interfere with scheduled speakers’ presentations or response to questions

Sound

• No amplified sound on campus between 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; no amplified sound indoors (megaphones and other sound-amplifying devices are not allowed inside)
• Sound amplified by event schedulers is allowed in athletics and entertainment venues
• Requests for amplified sound at the EMU Amphitheater must be submitted to Scheduling and Event Services
• Please be considerate of classes and other events when demonstrating outdoors

Signs

• May not have attached sticks inside buildings (safety hazard)
• May not make direct, “true” threats of violence
• May be removed if posted or left in an area that does not allow unregulated postings

Graffiti

• Any marking, including chalking, left on campus buildings or surfaces (including sidewalks and streets) may be removed, consistent with campus maintenance standards and practices.

Spaces

• To enable the free sharing of ideas on campus, the UO has rules and procedures for reserving space or other facilities.
• The person or group reserving the facility is entitled to determine how, within university guidelines, that facility is used.
• When campus activities conflict with one another, university officials have the authority to request those involved in one activity to stop, move, or change their behavior, so that the other activity can continue.

 
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