By Liz Townsend

Carleton Lifeline, a pro-life group at Carleton University in Ontario, Canada, is no longer recognized by the student association because of its right to life position. The Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) pulled its recognition last month after the pro-lifers refused to change their group's constitution to reflect CUSA's pro-abortion "anti-discrimination" policy, according to the National Post.

"It's very ironic that they have a discrimination policy that allows them to discriminate against pro-life groups," Ruth Lobo, Carleton Lifeline's president, told the Post. "CUSA claims to be representative of all students. As a pro-life student I am not represented by an organization I am forced to pay dues to in my tuition. Either they should create a policy in which students can opt out of fees or get rid of the discrimination policy."

The loss of certification means that Carleton Lifeline will lose funding from CUSA, as well as access to space on campus for meetings, events, and information tables and the use of university services like copy machines, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

In a letter later published by the Post, CUSA Vice President Khaldoon A. Bushnaq outlined the pro-life group's offense and the solution: to amend its constitution to remove all references to the right to life of the unborn. Bushnaq quoted the offending language in Carleton Lifeline's constitution: "Carleton Lifeline believes in the equal rights of the unborn and firmly believes that abortion is a moral and legal wrong, not a constitutional right. Therefore, Carleton lifeline shall work to promote the legal protection of the unborn and their basic human rights to life."

Bushnaq pointed out that this violated the following provisions in CUSA's "Discrimination on Campus Policy": "CUSA and CUSA Inc. respect and affirm a woman's right to choose her options in case of pregnancy. ... CUSA further affirms that actions such as any campaign, distribution, solicitation, lobbying, effort, display, event etc. that seeks to limit or remove a woman's right to choose her options in the case of pregnancy will not be supported. As such, no CUSA resources, space, recognition or funding will be allocated for the purpose of promoting these actions."

The pro-life students have vowed to continue fighting CUSA's decision, and will take the case to court if necessary, according to the Post. "They're being discriminated against on the basis of their political beliefs," Carleton Lifeline's attorney Albertos Polizogopoulos told the Citizen. "We have essentially demanded that CUSA amend or quash the policy and reinstate Carleton Lifeline as a club. I can assure you that the students are going to see this through. They're not going to take it lying down."

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