Friday, February 2, 2024
Group connecting abortion to slavery raises tensions at OSU Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief
“I love Black History Month,
tion where we already have racial issues going on. People do not need to see that.” Russel Hunter, a member of the Abolitionist Rising group, said the group chooses to spread its message in colleges because students are still parOn Wednesday, Imunique Gilliam ticipating with abortions and its goal is planned to spend her day at home. to encourage students not to “advocate She drove to campus wearing for their destruction.” Hunter said the pajamas and slippers, parked by the ideology between slavery and abortion meters and walked to the Center for is the same. Africana Studies to drop off a canvas. “If you look at the abolitionists of Gilliam said as soon as she slavery or the abolitionist movement, walked into the center, she knew someand what they believed and why they thing was wrong. Several of her peers did what they did, it’s 100% identical,” gathered in distress. They were heading Hunter said. “We believe that human to the Student Union, where the Abolibeings are made in the image of God. tionist Rising group from Norman held And just because you pass laws that say with no attempt to regulate or reduce said. “It was a terrible correlation. First, signs containing racial slurs and images a particular set of human beings can be abortion by treating it as healthcare. I’m going to listen to your point, then of slaves bleeding. destroyed or can be treated as though Wilson, Gilliam and her peers I’m gonna get into it.” “They were trying very hard to they don’t have their own bodies, but questioned how that was connected to A number of Black students gathconnect abortion with slavery,” said you can use their bodies for what you race. ered around the group, explaining why Karen Wilson, the program coordinator want. Or you can kill them. Just beGilliam rushed to the parking lot they felt offended. Gilliam said they for CAfS. “So I grabbed my keys and cause laws protect that kind of action. to add more coins to the parking meter were trying to understand the comparimy camera and went out there.” . . so those laws in that practice need and then raced to the Student Union. son between slavery and abortion, and One of the signs had racial slurs to be abolished. So, it’s not just like an Gilliam first saw a sign of a white the men in the group were focused on depiciting Black people being sold. On analogical argument. It’s actually like a woman saying, “My body my choice,” addressing their beliefs against aborthe same side, it read “If you are not historical continuity.” pointing to a Black man with welts on tion. an abolitionist of abortion today, you The students from CAfS listened his back from whippings. Although at “I am not here to talk about aborwould not have been an abolitionist of to the group but didn’t walk away. Gilfirst glance that’s what it looked like, tion,” Gilliam said. “I am here for the slavery in the past.” liam said everyone has their right to the group said the depicted woman and race conversation. You have a board The group travels around the nahave their opinion about abortion, but man connected on the poster. portraying a certain image for Black tion calling for the total and immediate connecting to slavery and using offen“It didn’t make no sense,” Gilliam people at a predominantly white institucriminalization of abortion as murder sive graphics was crossing a line.
but Black people don’t just exist in February. We exist year-round.” Antonia Grigsby CAfS student
See Tensions on 4A
Sound the alarm
Ground breaks on Fire Station No. 2 Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter
File photo In 2023, December was the month the most animals were surrendered to Stillwater Animal Welfare.
Surrender is the new adoption
community of Stillwater. The station is a step toward enhancing emergency services’ response time and its ability to serve the community. “It puts on a main artery that goes all the way During winter break, around the city so we can the Stillwater Fire Departjump on the road and go,” ment and City Council began Fire Chief Terry Essary said. building Fire Station No. 2. “It puts us in the right locaThe new fire station is tion where we can serve OSU a part of the city’s T.I.M.E, and the entire community.” “Together Investing in MuThe new station will be nicipal Excellence” initiative, bigger and better, with five which seeks to improve the bays, room for two engine
companies and better living conditions for firefighters. One new aspect of the station is its decontamination equipment. Firefighters pick up carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals when they are out on the job and a place to clean up will save lives. “The station is designed specifically for performance for firefighters and to keep them healthy,” Essary said. See Station on 5A
Addie Wagner Staff Reporter
easily return them like an item from a store. It happens every day. For Buster, surrender was the result of financial difficulties. “He did nothing wrong, and the owners were also very upset Buster, a year-and-a-half to surrender him,” said Rachel old pitbull mix, sits patiently in his barred home, as his cagemate Wasserman, the Stillwater Animal Welfare supervisor. “That greets his new family. was just one of those instances His big, brown eyes are filled with unanswered questions that was just bad for everybody.” Financial trouble is one about why he is back in a kennel when he once had everything he of many reasons people give for returning pets. had ever wanted. When someone chooses to Buster begins another era at the shelter after his former own- adopt a pet, employees warn that young pets need a lot of veters surrendered him. erinary care, and oftentimes the Cats and dogs put their thought of large vet bills scares trust in new owners on their people off. This, with the added adoption day at Stillwater Animal Welfare. However, the owner expense of caring and providing for an animal, can be too much who seemed perfect can just as for some. See Adoption on 5A
What’s Inside
The Grammys
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Andon Freitas The new location of Fire Station No. 2 is on Western Road, where it will have easy access to the entire city.
New Frontiers On track for fall 2025 completion
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