In response to the Oct. 26 article “Pro-choice organization asks for SA recognition,” Advocates for Choice (AFC) wishes to clarify a few issues that inaccurately represent the nature and intent of the group.

The article incorrectly described AFC as an abortion rights organization; while abortion does comprise a portion of the reproductive health and access issues AFC supports, it is certainly not the group’s only concern.

This restrictive label fails to recognize that AFC supports full access to comprehensive reproductive health care services, advocates for public policies that guarantee these rights and ensures access to such services and supports access to medically accurate educational programs that enhance understanding of human sexuality.

As SA Vice President Erik Calmeyer stated during the Oct. 25 senate meeting, it is important to consider the entire scope of AFC.

Moreover, in the article, Senator Austin Quick implies that the president of AFC was unprepared for the recognition process: “Every time we asked a question, her answer was that she did not know.”

This statement portrays a rather biased view of the various sources of confusion that contributed to SA postponing its vote on AFC group approval.

Although the AFC president was unable to answer one question regarding the senator’s desire to reclassify AFC as a political group, it must be noted that the senate decided not to vote on the matter because they were unfamiliar with their own bylaws and funding procedures.

AFC would also like to stress that the group does not align with a particular political ideology, and thus identifies as a social justice group rather than political group.

Ultimately, AFC supports a social issue that is often taken up as a political cause.
“Political” hardly represents the entire aim of AFC.

It should also be considered that “NIU’s anti-abortion activism group” We Care 4 NIU (incorrectly referred to as “We Change” by the Star) was recognized by the SA as a “community service” organization.

With this is mind, it appears as though concerns regarding a change in AFC group classification relate to more than mere funding issues.

On behalf of Advocates for Choice,




Alexandria Springer
AFC President, Senior

Lettie Morgan
AFC Vice President, Junior

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