Villanova to Dedicate Portion of Library to Professor Who Murdered Infant Daughter

Villanova—Villanova University decided to dedicate a portion of their library to a "popular teacher and widely published specialist". What their student-invitation to the dedication fails to mention is this professor murdered her 6-month old baby.

Her child had been born with Downs Syndrome, and she said she wished to "give the baby relief". After this event, the school decided to create a memorial. To the innocent, deceased child? No, to the professor who later committed suicide in prison.

Villanova University is a Catholic University whose mission statement clearly states: "Villanova University is a just community, a place where the sacredness of each person is honored." Apparently not in this case. What about the innocent baby?

Interesting enough, Villanova hosts the Fall Games for Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), "the second largest Special Olympics chapter in the United States, provides year-round sports training and competition for over 26,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities," including Downs Syndrome.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-08-05-professor_x.htm

http://kyw.com/Local%20News/local_story_243105003.html

Original Text of Invitation:

Villanova students are cordially invited to attend a brief ceremony todedicate the Mine Ener Memorial in the Study Lounge on the first floorof Falvey Library, to take place on Thursday, January 20, at 9:30 am inthe Library. Refreshments will be served.A popular teacher and widely published specialist on the history of themodern Middle East, Dr. Ener joined the History Department faculty in1996, and was associate professor and Director of the Center for Araband Islamic Studies from 2002 until her death in August 2003.The Memorial has been funded by donations from her many friends, familyand colleagues to the Mine Ener Memorial Fund Committee, consisting ofRev. Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences;Dr. Barbara Wall, Special Assistant to the President for MissionEffectiveness; Dr. Adele Lindenmeyr, Professor and Chair of History; andDr. Seth Koven, Associate Professor of History. The funds have beenused to purchase furnishings for the new student lounge in the Library.

The "Moral Values" Vote and Abortion

Since the election, newspapers and pundits have been writing on the “moral values vote”. The “moral values vote” is basically the group people who voted for Bush based on issues such as gay marriage, stem cell research and abortion. Despite this common grouping, I do not believe this is an accurate way to lump people’s vote.

The argument against abortion does not solely claim that it is immoral and against normal family life. People use the argument that there is a clear divide between church and state, and abortion cannot be banned on such grounds.

I will not deny that some people are against abortion based just on moral values, but just because something has moral values attached to it does not put it solely in the moral value category. The difference between abortion and something like (what some "pro-choice" claim may happen) jailing for premarital sex is that abortion involves life. We, by very existence, have a right to our lives, our liberty and our property. If someone believes a fetus to be a living human being, people having abortions are denying that fetus its right to life.

One may bring up the argument at this point that a person’s belief as to when a fetus is “living” is often based on his or her religious belief. While this is true, this goes beyond the abstractness of beliefs. There is an actual point at which the fetus becomes a human being. Some believe this point is conception and some believe this to be birth. However, no proof as to when human life actually occurs has been found as of yet. Therefore, everyone’s opinion regarding abortion is based on “belief”. Based on our basic human rights and the laws of this country, wouldn’t it make sense then to err on the side of caution? Why permit something( more correctly, someone) to be destroyed when everyone is unsure as to whether or not a human life is being destroyed? Abortion is not cut and dry, and does not solely fall under the moral values umbrella. Advocates against abortion are simply fighting for our basic human rights.