Media Release: ProLife Auckland
12 May 2010
Pro-Life Club Affiliates at University of Auckland
University of Auckland pro-life group, Prolife Auckland, is today delighted to announce their successful affiliation at
the University of Auckland this afternoon.
"We've been working to affiliate for over six months," says Prolife Auckland President Simeon Brown. "It's been a hard
struggle, but we've finally succeeded."
The group affiliated this afternoon at the student association's (AUSA) forum. Debate occurred over whether the pro-life
group should affiliate, with those in favour arguing that all students should have the right to choose what they believe
and to express their views on campus.
A vote was taken with 89 votes in favour, 33 opposed and 8 abstentions. With a majority, the pro-life club was
affiliated.
This comes on the heels of the group's recent overturning of a ban against pro-life groups. Since 2002, anyone wanting
to start a pro-life club on campus has had only one opportunity every 365 days to try and gain official club status, but
any other club simply had to wait seven days to try their hand and chance the odds.
"The ruling had clearly been discriminatory and designed to shut down debate on abortion," he says. "It was amazing to
have overturned it."
The club now has the status of every other AUSA club, being able to use club space, apply for grants and operate on
campus.
“This is a victory for common-sense and freedom of expression more than anything, as well as an acknowledgment that
pro-life is a valid perspective”, concludes Mr Brown.
ENDS