A Blindingly Bright Future

By Joleigh Little

"The future isn't just bright, it's blinding!" The realization struck me during a recent college training seminar in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Of course, the blinding part could have had something to do with the tears of joy in my eyes--being in a room full of future pro-life doctors, lawyers, and movement leaders can do that to you.)

On Saturday, October 1, 2005, Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) held its first college training day for the participants in its new college grant program. In attendance were 11 articulate, intelligent, and passionate pro-life college students, five of them recipients of the grants, given to help initiate and build solid pro-life groups on campuses around the state.

"We started doing this last year," said WRTL Chapter Director Doreen Shirek, "because we realized that there is a vital need to train students on the college level. This is such a critical age group to reach with the pro-life message, and one day soon, they will take our place in leading this movement."

In slightly more than a year, this grant program has helped start new pro-life groups on five Wisconsin college campuses, and the training programs are reaching out to students from a myriad of other existing campus groups. In 2004, the year the program began, two grants were issued.

In 2005, a total of five grants were given out to students on campuses from Superior to Milwaukee and several points in between. Local WRTL chapters are excited about the potential of these groups and have discussed working together to provide funding for even more grants in future years.

A critical part of the grant process is training the college leaders on all of the life issues. For this reason, beginning next summer, attendance at one of WRTL's leadership camps will be a prerequisite for receiving a grant, and periodic day-long training "updates" will also be held.

Although the program itself is new, exciting, and shows incredible promise, the real stars are the students themselves.

Sinead Devlin, 20, a sophomore at Ripon College, is pursuing a career in law. She plans to graduate from college, attend law school, and put pro-life legal work at the top of her agenda. She hopes to one day serve as a judge--she believes the need for pro-life judges is critical, in the wake of recent court decisions--most notably the judicial homicide of Terri Schindler Schiavo.

Devlin says, "If at this time in our history one person is able to decide from the bench that another is to die, the screaming need for judges who defend life is all but deafening. I plan to answer that call with the strength necessary to help protect the defenseless and be the polar opposite of judges like Greer." Sinead's natural leadership abilities shine through in group settings, leaving no doubt that she will accomplish anything and everything she sets out to do, making her an incredible asset to the cause of life.

Carla Haworth, 19, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, is a second generation pro-life leader. Her parents were heavily involved in their local WRTL chapter while Carla was in utero--evidence, perhaps, that a passion for the pro-life cause can, indeed, cross the placenta.

Carla worked on the local, state, and national level as a member of Teens for Life and has now taken her passion for the pro-life cause with her to college. She believes that the education she has received during her years in the movement will serve her well as she pursues a career in nursing.

"My involvement in the pro-life cause has solidified my view of the intrinsic value of all human life," she said, "and this definitely will enable me to unconditionally love and care for my patients in my future nursing profession."

Everyone who meets these bright, capable, and personable young leaders is impressed. Those who have been in the Movement the longest are, seemingly, the most amazed.

When asked why WRTL is placing such an emphasis on youth, executive director Barbara Lyons responded by citing a recent Glamour magazine article entitled

"The Mysterious Disappearance of Pro-Choice Women."

"I used to worry about who would lead this movement in the future," Lyons stated. "Now I'm not worried anymore. I view the future with anticipation and excitement."

Addressing the collegians directly, she quipped, "We old folks started this fight--you will finish it.">END