Page 8-The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition - Thursday, September 6, 1990 CONSENT Continued from page 4' with these restrictions are greatest for poor and working-class young women. The teens most likely to feel that they have little choice but to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term are also those who face the greatest risks involved in adolescent pregnancy, childbearing, and rearing. While abortion is safer than ei- ther tonsillectomy or a shot of peni- cillin, teen pregnancy and childbirth carry great personal, social and health risks. Teens are 24 times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth than from abortion. Even a study commissioned by the Reagan administration and conducted by the anti-choice Surgeon General C. Everett Koop was an embarrass- ing rebuttal to anti-choice claims about the danger of abortion. According to the National. Academy of Sciences, teens who be- come parents are at "serious risk of health and nutritional deficiencies, dropping out of school, unemploy- ment, single parenthood, poverty and long-term welfare dependence. Their children have a high probability of physical, social and cognitive prob- lems and deficiencies." While it is clear that parental consent laws are not consistent with a concern for the well-being of a child, it is consistent with a belief in absolute parental rights. Yet, what is the value of parental rights if those "rights" are construed broadly enough to include actions by the parent that would endanger a child? Is our interest in parental rights greater than our interest in our chil- dren's well-being? Ask this of Karen and William Bell, whose 17-year old daughter Becky died in 1988 from the illegal abortion that seemed less a threat to her than her parent's disappointment or the judgement of a black-robed stranger. Many states realize the wisdom in allowing youth to obtain certain kinds of confidential treatment with- out a parent's knowledge. This in- cludes treatment and services related to mental health, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases. Abor- tion is clearly in such a category, and attempts by the anti-choice to draw comparisons between consent for abortion and consent for ear- piercing are ludicrous. Conspicuously absent from the argument of those who support parental consent is the fact that these laws establish a logical and legal precedent for forced termination of pregnancy as well as forced continua- tion of pregnancy. Parents seeking to act in the best interests of their child in accordance with their parental rights and responsibilities could just as easily opt for forced abortion as for forced pregnancy. This points to another problem that lies in the issue of force: force in itself may constitute an action that is not in the best interests of the child, especially when one considers the peculiarly sensitive, intimate and life-shaping nature of pregnancy and childbirth. Given the adverse effects that parental consent and notification laws have upon teenage women, it's not surprising that child and family advocates do not comprise the lobby that supports this legislation. On the contrary, these groups denounce these restrictions as dangerous and misguided. It is only the anti-abortion lobby that supports parental consent and notification laws and other restric- tions on a woman's ability to con- trol her own body. They do so be- cause they believe such legislation has the power to stop abortions that women would otherwise have been able to obtain. (According to the Na- tional Academy of Sciences, there is no evidence that parental notification or consent laws reduce unwanted teen pregnancies. ) Young and poor women, the most vulnerable women in this country, have been the targets of these successful anti-choice cam- paigns to restrict abortion. Teenage women in this society are not perceived as having a right to self-determination and control over their bodies. The hypocrisy which surrounds this issue is astounding. Young women's sexuality is vi- ciously exploited by men through pornography, prostitution, advertis- ing and media. Young men are taught that to be a "man," they must "score." Yet a heterosexually active young woman still faces a double standard for her behavior. Parental consent laws are a case in point. They punish the young woman while the young man escapes cen- sure and responsibility. After all, he doesn't need to notify his parents about his role in the pregnancy. In the context of a society already hostile to the basic needs of women, children and people of color, parental consent and notification laws be- come another weapon - another barrier - to those seeking a better life. Why is it that the same state that claims to have a compelling in- terest in protecting potential human life - at the expense of the real human life of the woman - has no interest in developing a supportive social system that would provide for that life? The false and romanticized image of the supportive patriarchal family upon which proponents of parental consent rely only draws attention away from these deeper issues. Parental consent laws and other re- strictions on abortion must be chal- lenged as a serious threat not only to the women that they most directly affect - but to all women. Cecelia E. Ober is a medical as- sistant at the Ann Arbor Planned Parenthood and a member of the Feminist Women's Union, which meets every Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Michigan Union. EarthDayKENNETH SMOLLERDaiDy The University of Michigan was the site of the initial Earth Day Movement 21 years ago. Today, environmentally active campus groups are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. +' l LASC Continued from page 6 the last 11 years. The boycott is part of a national effort to force the Sal- vadoran government to stop killing its political opponents, and negotiate an end to the civil war. In Ann Ar- bor, more than 30 stores have al- ready agreed not to sell Folgers, and the boycott is growing rapidly. LASC is for everyone who be- lieves in the right of all nations to self-determination. Meetings are ev- ery Wednesday in the Michigan Union, at 8 p.m.- just stop at the information desk for the room num- ber, or call 665-8438. All decisions are made by the weekly meeting, and new members are always welcome. Meetings begin with a wrap-up and critique of the week's news on Latin America. So join us. To paraphrase a famous 19th century philosopher: you can talk about the world in your classes; the point, however, is to change it. GEO Continued from page 3 minimal control over hiring poli- cies, working conditions, the cur- riculum, and other basic University policies. We need to be aware of who makes the decisions at this Univer- sity and why. Most of the money spent at this University is not for the benefit of undergraduates or of graduate students. We'd like to see that change. It will not change, though, until we have a better under- standing of who benefits from the University's current policies and why the administration is so resis- tant to change. The University administration is terrified of student control, especially over course content. In a 1972 memo, President Fleming wrote about a contract achieved by graduate students at the University of Wis- consin, "this document represents largely a victory for the University in bargaining against original advo- cates who wanted to control course content." Our struggle is not an easy one. Over the years, in the course of their efforts to break the Union, Univer- sity administrators have resorted to violating our basic civil liberties. Files from the Office of Academic Affairs U-M archives show that in the 1970s, University administrators planted "sources" at membership meetings and had in their possession minutes from GEO meetings as soon as a day after the meeting. The Union is continuously threatened by the Administration in more overt ways as well. The Union only achieved its first contract with the administration after a month- long strike in 1975 and was forced to fight with the University for six years before an Administrative Law Judge and the Michigan Employ- ment Relations Commission to ob- tain a second contract. As recently as 1988, the University again raised the issue of whether GSAs were em- ployees and whether they were enti- tled to bargain collectively. There is more than one way to break the Union. Since the Univer- sity has not been able to do it through the courts, they are going through another process to violate the integrity of the bargaining unit. Engineering departments have begun to hire undergraduates to be "Instruction Assistants"(IAs). Ap- parently, departments can hire three instructional assistants for the price of one TA. At the same time, the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department have informed GEO that they have cut TA positions by 20% because of budgetary limitations. GEO does not know to what extent such practices are going on in other departments. We'd like our member- ship to report to us about this. Newly active members this fall will have an opportunity to influ- ence GEO's strategies and priorities and gain some real organizing expe- rience. There are many crucial issues that need to be addressed at the Uni- versity and GEO is uniquely placed to have a real impact. Contact GEO at 995-0221 or write 802 Monroe Street; Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. So T Arthur Me a:. 0:'! ..*. ..* . . . . MAINSTREET OUTFITTERS .S We Specialize ii . Backpacking & Camping . Cross Country Skiing " Outdoor Clothing - Climbing Gear " Tents n: ';' J ''' ' .' "i :: 'nr . ..... _ . . 4 . f .. "i ..""_ a. "" wr 333 S. Main St 761-8515 Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm; Th-Fri, till 8 pm WELCOME BACK | ICan't Believe Its Yogurz t! I I 50% OFF Any Large Size with Topping Expires Nov. 10, 1990 I 315 112 S. Main St. 2550 W. Stadium 663-2088 668-8845 L --ant -iP----It's --- - IFASC VATI4It+C Theme Party Supplies Magic and Juggling Masquerade Costumes Hats and Accessories 305 S. Main 665-2680 A short walk downtown from Main Campus DOWNTOWN ANN ARBOR PARTHENON a FINE GREEK FOOD HOME-COOKED " Gyros& Shish-Ka-Bob Sandwiches " Greek Salads : Mousaka, Pastitsio, Dolmades - Baklava - Spinach Pie, Lamb Chops " Rice Pudding AND NOW FEATURING CHICKEN, PASTA, & STEAKS COCKTAILS - BEER - WINE Table Service after 5 p.m. Open Mon-Thurs, 11-10 Complete Carry-out Service Fri & Sat, 11-11; Sun, 12-10 225 Main at Liberty * 994-1012 . IHeadquarters for COME VISIT US! MANIKAS RESTAURANT SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER Everyday Specials, featuring our Breakfast Special: Eggs, Potatoes, and a choice of Meat - All for $2.95 307 S. Main 663-7449 It's worth the walk downtown!! 7-9 Monday-Saturday 10-8 Sunday Beer, liquor, and wine available. GALLERY POSTERS- Monet, Ansel Adams and much more. " DECORATOR PRINTS " U OF M SPORT SPECIALTIES Hundreds of pictures on display, handsomely matted or framed in a variety of sizes and styles. IDEAL FOR THE DORM ROOM 501() FF Framed Posters- with coupon expires Nov. 31, 1990 Sale items excluded PICTURE FRAMING AT UNBEATABLE PRICES Wide selection of wood and metal frames Fast, efficient service - Dry Mounting - Mats cut to any size Sl I . ;. .