The Celebrate Life Conference

The News from California: All Good!

The first weekend in April proved to be as bright and sunny as could be hoped for on the San Francisco peninsula in springtime. A very important detail in planning the Celebrate Life Conference at Stanford University, to be sure, and one that helped to enhance the exuberant atmosphere created by the over 100 pro-life students who attended.

The effort to build a strong coalition between the many northern California universities and colleges has been underway for a few years. It is a wonderful thing to note that this coalition-building has been primarily led by the young women and men on those same campuses. Concerned as they are about the devastation done by legalized abortion to their generation, these brave members of the current student body have attempted to rattle the cages of the "politically correct" about life issues at both the faculty and student levels.

The Celebrate Life Conference held at Stanford University brought together over a hundred student leaders and some faculty supporters. Seven schools were represented including, Berkeley, Stanford, the University of San Francisco, the University of California Davis, and others. The workshops addressed a wide range of issues that today's students need to be conversant with and speakers acknowledged the unique needs that students face when working to build a strong pro-life presence on campus.

The workshop presented by Olivia Gans called "When They Say, You Say" was packed. The proposition of the workshop was simple: there really are no new arguments against the pro-life position. Thus everyone can learn to be a marvelously effective defender of innocent life.

At the end of her workshop Miss Gans invited the students to try to find a question that could stump her. The lively effort of those in the room proved to be to no avail! All who attended were eager to start testing out these new skills right away.

Workshops that illustrated the current legal situation, as well as some of the political and judicial issues surrounding Roe v. Wade in history, gave the pro-life students a new frame of reference. Dr. Michael New, himself a founder of the Stanford pro-life group, was a co-presenter in that session.

Other speakers addressed the basics of raising money and building teams of support on campus in order to strengthen the efforts of any college group. The Internet - - its marvelous capacity to get the word out far, wide, and quickly - - was discussed in several of the workshops.

In Miss Gans's remarks as the keynote speaker at the Stanford event, she highlighted her belief that in today's climate it is not easy to break down the rigid walls of resistance. There is no doubt that it can feel like a lonely business being pro-life on any campus, she said.

Miss Gans insisted that the focus must be on the irreplaceable dignity of each member of the human family, from the preborn to the elderly. That uniqueness extended, she said, to each of the young leaders present. Each was irreplaceable in this struggle to protect life.

The unique gifts each of these young women and men bring to this cause are those most necessary for the movement to succeed now and into the future, she said. Their courage and desire to challenge the lies and deceptions set forth by pro-abortion advocates will go a long way to change the course of history about the abortion debate.

However, Miss Gans reminded the audience that many of those they were trying to persuade had themselves already been personally involved in an abortion experience, including their teachers as well as their peers. The effects of abortion on this society for more than 30 years have left deep scars on so many. Those scars are often the cause of most of the resistance to the truth behind the slogans "safe and legal" and "a woman's right."

Before the truth can be heard in many cases, Miss Gans explained, the pain must be healed. Comprehending the damage that's been done all around can help pro-lifers to move firmly but compassionately through the culture that surrounds them, even on a college campus!

Earlier in the week Miss Gans had participated in a debate at the University of California at San Francisco. A member of the local ACLU chapter was her opposition.

The environment has been openly hostile to the efforts of pro-life students there. Some of the roughest opposition came from members of the faculty, which is not at all an uncommon experience for pro-life students on many a campus.

The debate was well attended by more than 30 students and a faculty member. The student coordinators pronounced it a decided pro-life victory. A number of those attending expressed interest in participating in future pro-life activity.

Along with educating college-age pro-lifers, the most important aspect of any such gathering is to create a sense of camaraderie. There is no doubt that fast friends were made at this Celebrate Life Conference, especially for those students who are - - for now! - - outnumbered on campus.

Organizers had hoped for a conference that would draw together students who were prepared to work hard to craft a supportive network. There is no doubt that this year's conference is just the start of even bigger things to come!