This past fall a controversy was created on the Coon Rapids Campus as a new pro-life club formed.

By Sam Gentle

Staff Writer

 “The goal of AR’s Pro-Life Club is to educate students about life. Our goal is to peacefully and accurately provide information on campus. We want to let pregnant students know that abortion isn’t their only option, and we want to help all students learn more about abortion and when life begins,” said Sarah Becker Pro-Life President.

 The group has handed out many materials and held many events to educate students about abortion.  A pamphlet the group has handed out comparing people’s purported ignorance on the topic to mushrooms.

One of the earliest activities the club did was drawing on the sidewalks, promoting the site Abort 73, which is a Christian pro-life group.  Later in the fall semester, the group handed out cupcakes for students on National Pro-Life Cupcake Day on Oct. 9.  In February, the group planned to host a movie, Black Genocide, which took the view that African American population is target of a racial genocide through abortion.  The group then cancelled the viewing due to concerns of the content.

The club is affiliated with the national group, Students For Life.  According to the website the group mission is to, “Create a culture where those most affected by abortion are empowered and equipped to recruit their peers to join our human rights movement … and provide tangible resources while supporting those facing an unplanned pregnancy.”  Students For Life has helped form over 700 clubs on college campuses since 2006 including ARCC.

As for the future of this group, Becker said “Our events planned for the Spring 2015 semester include educating students about the harmful effects of abortion and a table educating students about fetal development.”

According to Becker, the group has seen many positive responses for educating students on campus about the pro-life movement.

“Some have told us they think it’s admirable, but never would be brave enough to do it ourselves. It’s not always easy, but getting to stop & talk to students who, after our conversation, walk away with new information…makes it worthwhile for us,​”said Becker.

 The group planned to hold an event spotlighting the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which deemed the choice to have an abortion a constitutional right, however this event was also canceled.