The
S TUDENT P RINTZ
November 3, 2011
www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Volume 96 Issue 20
NATIONAL
USM holds meetings on Initiative 26: VOTE ‘NO’ on 26 Ashton Pittman Web Editor
Justin Sellers/Printz
“Vote NO on 26” yard signs have popped up across Hattiesburg in the past few weeks. Initiative 26, otherwise known as the Personhood Ammendment, will be on the ballot Tuesday.
About 100 people showed up at Joseph Greene Hall Tuesday for a discussion panel on Initiative 26, according to Caroline Griffin, the event’s organizer. The discussion, hosted by USM’s Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, focused on educating attendees on the reasons some oppose the Personhood Amendment, or Initiative 26, which would alter the Mississippi constitution to define life as beginning at the moment of fertilization. The speakers were Atlee Breland, founder of parentsagainstms26. com; Jamie Stewart, who has worked with at-risk youth for 20 years and Sarah Shanks, the Southern Campus
Organizer for the Feminist Majority Foundation in Washington, D.C. “This is not voting about what you personally think about when life begins,” Breland said. “What you are being asked to vote on is when you think rights begin.” That, they said, could have farreaching implications on health care for women. “Do you want lawmakers in Jackson deciding about your health, or do you want you and your doctor deciding that?” Stewart said. “Us men have always had the doctor and us. But ladies, this will say the lawmaker can decide about your health.” Opponents have warned that the initiative could mean the end of everything from fertility treatments to birth control in Mississippi. But the
initiative itself doesn’t specifically address those issues. “If a life is considered a person at fertilization, any termination of that whether it’s hormonal birth control, IUDs, or Plan B has really strong implications,” Shanks said. “We don’t know how that’s going to be interpreted.” Shanks pointed to the case of Rennie Gibbs of Columbus, Miss., who faces life in prison for a miscarriage she had at age 15. Authorities are charging her with depraved heart murder on the unproven basis that cocaine use may have caused the miscarriage, Shanks said. Shanks said that Gibbs’ case proves that there is precedent for such charges if Initiative 26 passes.
See NO, 3
NATIONAL
VOTE ‘YES’ on 26 Tyler Hill Printz Writer The message was clear and concise at the College Republicans meeting on Tuesday: Vote yes on Initiative 26. The state executive director for “Yes on 26” Brad Prewitt was the guest speaker for the event. The audience consisted of roughly 30 guests, ranging from students to faculty members. The Personhood Amendment (a.k.a. Initiative 26) has been a heavily debated topic in recent months, and students at the University of Southern Mississippi have taken a vital role in shaping the dialogue. First, Prewitt spoke of the importance of voting this election cycle. Many critical topics will be on the ballot this year, including Initiative 26; Initiative 31, which will stop eminent domain abuse; and the highly anticipated governor’s race between Phil Bryant and Johnny DuPree.
FENCES
Both candidates, Bryant and DuPree, endorse Initiative 26. In his speech, Prewitt frequently compared African-Americans in early American history to those fetuses that are unborn. At one point in history, the Constitution stated that slaves were only three-fifths of a person. Prewitt claimed that unborn fetuses are not considered persons either. He said that the Personhood Amendment would define the term “person” to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent thereof. Prewitt quickly addressed the common misconceptions about the Personhood Amendment. Contrary to popular belief, the initiative will not outlaw contraceptives, will not end in vitro fertilization, will not prevent a doctor from saving the life
of a mother with a problem pregnancy and, finally, will not result in the criminal prosecution of a woman who suffers a miscarriage. That said, a main concern among those who oppose it is that the amendment as written is vague. Seniors Chelsea and Carlee Lewis are included in those who believe the amendment is too vague. “I will vote no on Initiative 26, not only because I am pro-choice, but because I believe it’s too vague,” Chelsea said. “It will give too much leeway to outlaw methods such as Plan B, in vitro and contraceptives.” Carlee added another concern. She said she opposes the fact that the Personhood Amendment will prevent abor-
See YES, 3 Justin Sellers/Printz
Right: A “VOTE for LIFE, YES on 26” sign was in the back of a truck seen in a parking lot Wednesday. This ammendment has been a hot topic in Mississippi and will be voted on Tuesday.
ROUNDHOUSE GROOVE
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WEATHER Thursday
69/40 Friday
66/37 Saturday
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INDEX
Calendar ........................ 2 Crossword ...................... 2 News .............................. 3 Feature ...........................4 Arts & Entertainment......5 Opinion...........................7 Sports.......................... ...8