VCU professor to host veteran storytelling group

Chip Lauterbach

Contributing Writer

Members of VCU’s veteran community will have the opportunity to share their experiences through storytelling thanks to the efforts of a professor in VCU’s Department of Focused Inquiry.

Anti-abortion demonstration returns to campus, met by counter-protestors

SARAH ELSON Contributing Writer

The anti-abortion group Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) made its first appearance of the school year near the Compass Monday, putting up graphic displays depicting what the group considered images of genocide and mutilated fetuses.

The group — whose “Genocide Awareness Project” travels to college campuses across the country — previously came to VCU in fall 2016, sparking a similar debate between anti-abortion and abortion-rights activists.

VCU freshman Molly Bryant was frustrated by the images.

“This pisses me off, and I understand it’s freedom of speech, but to use those pictures is messed up,” Bryant said. “I’m very angry that they would put all those pictures up.”

CBR Southeast Regional Director Fletcher Armstrong said the pictures used for the display were legitimate, despite some claims from students that the images were fake.

“The pictures are from us and, depending on the statistic, we cite different sources,” Armstrong said. “We use the Guttmacher Institute, which uses Planned Parenthood statistics.”

When the demonstrators first set up, a few Planned Parenthood advocates gathered to protest the scene.

“I think it’s disrespectful and shameful to produce this display,” said Planned Parenthood Generation Action at VCU Historian Delaney Joras. “I think it’s just to shame people and to make them uncomfortable.”

After the demonstration, the Young Democratic Socialists at VCU held a meeting Monday night to plan a counterprotest. They were joined near the Compass Tuesday morning by Planned Parenthood at VCU and Queer and Trans People of Color Collective.

YDSA member Eli Nachison said the timing of this demonstration was poor, considering the Brett Kavanaugh hearing that took place last week, sparking debate surrounding women’s rights.

“I think it especially stings coming off of a week where the integrity of women was definitely under the spotlight and was a very difficult time for a lot of people,” Nachison said. “I’m very displeased that people seek to spread that information on campus, and I extend my condolences to people that had their days ruined by those people.”

Returning Tuesday, Planned Parenthood at VCU members sported abortion-rights signs and attempted to form a barrier around the anti-abortion demonstration. Other individuals joined the crowd to voice their opinions.

“This is a space that allows any movement to gather and to express their views,” said Peter Jenkins, a Ph.D. student who participated in the counterprotest. “So, we wanted to express our views as well.”

CBR demonstrators reserved the space through the university. The Compass is a public space and can be used by any group, said Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs Reuban Rodriguez.

“The university, because we are a public university, has to allocate a designated area on campus for expressive activity,” Rodriguez said. “This is primarily for groups that are not affiliated in any way with the university, meaning any staff or students.”

Rodriguez said using the space does not require payment, but groups must adhere to campus policy.

Political science professor John Aughenbaugh said, as long as no party was harmed, the university did what the constitution allows it to do — facilitate free speech according to 1989 Supreme Court case Ward v. Rock Against Racism.

“The government may regulate the time, place, and manner of speech if the government regulation is content-neutral, narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest, and leaves open alternative channels of communication,” Aughenbaugh said.

In allowing the demonstration, VCU was merely adhering to federal policy based on Supreme Court precedent, he said.

“What VCU did was allow the demonstration [about] abortion, while giving a space for the counter-protesters and did so in a location [and] manner that minimized physical harm for either party,” Aughenbaugh said.

Maggie Eger, CBR project director, responded to the counter-protestors with enthusiasm, saying it shows students care about the issue.

“Seeing apathy among college students is very concerning to me,” Eger said. “So to see a lot of these people out here willing to sacrifice their time when they could be doing other things. So, that’s encouraging at least.”

Through “More Than War,” Carver Weakley plans to gather a group of VCU students with a military background and, through a series of several workshops, help participants craft stories of their experiences — including combat, returning home, transition, family and navigating life as a veteran. Storytellers are invited to speak for five to seven minutes.

Weakley’s friend, who currently serves in the military, inspired the idea for the project. Air Force Technical Sgt. Swift Moon showed her a 2013 article published in The Washington Post written by author, journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger titled “U.S. veterans need to share the moral burden of war.”

“It was a very powerful article and it got me thinking about how our society has compartmentalized the work that service members do overseas and the burdens they carry both abroad and when they return home,” Weakley said. “It is our responsibility, those of us here at home, to invite our friends and loved ones with combat experience to share with us so that we can help them carry that load.”

Moon — who is about to leave on his eighth combat deployment — has served in the Air Force for 17 years as an explosives ordnance disposal technician, and was candid about Weakley’s project.

“Everything I did over there stuck with me and it sunk into this idea of a shared moral responsibility for war,” Moon said. “Besides, everyone who has served has some either amazing or hilarious stories about their service.”

It is our responsibility, those of us here at home, to invite our friends and loved ones with combat experience to share with us so that we can help them carry that load.”

Carver Weakley, professor, Focused Inquiry Department

After thinking it over, Weakley came up with a way for student veterans to unload and share their burdens. She forged a partnership with the Department of Focused Inquiry and Military Student Services, planning for a storytelling event to happen in late November.

Weakley said VCU students are encouraged to attend to further their understanding of the veteran experience.

Interested veterans and students can submit story ideas to Weakley via email at weakleyac@vcu.edu by Oct. 29. Selected participants will be notified no later than Nov. 2 and information about the workshops taking place before the event will be shared at that time. A final date and location for “More Than War” has not been decided, but will be announced soon.

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Stat of the week

Women’s Cross Country placed fifth out of 43 teams at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Sept. 29. Men’s Cross Country placed 27th out of 44 at the Invitational.