November 7, 2009 |
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Collegians miss peers who might have beenPosted: 01.23.09 
CHRISTOPHER GUNTY | FC WASHINGTON | Jennifer Reimers has lived her whole life under the specter of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand in the United States. The Florida State University junior thinks about those people in her life who could have been aborted — those who were adopted, or whose parents were teens when they were conceived. “I think of how those people have affected my life, and what it would be like without them,” Reimers said while walking with about 20,000 other young people — many from FSU and other Florida universities — from a youth rally and Mass to join those already gathered on the National Mall for the 36th annual March for Life. On top of that, she said, she considers the fact that about one–third of her generation has been aborted before being born. “I think about all those people who are missing: what effect could they have had? It’s such a loss.” Reimers, a junior, made her third trip to the march with about 50 fellow members of FSU’s Catholic Student Union, including first–time marcher Sarah Miller. Miller said she believed her participation could make a difference, and that the sheer numbers of people involved in the march would bring attention to the cause from those who do not support the sanctity of life. She looked for the day in Washington to provide a “community of people who are pro–life and reinforce her beliefs, not just today, but day after day. I want to be a witness for life every day.” Tim Sojourner, an FSU senior, skipped the first two marches for life during his college years, fearing the sacrifices of taking a few days off of classes would be too hard to make up. But after being convinced to join the Catholic Student Union group last year, he said there was no question he would attend again this year. “This is the first time for our time in college that we’re facing a president who doesn’t agree with us” on life issues, he said, and it is necessary to raise awareness. “I understand we probably won’t change (President) Obama’s mind or the government right away, but (we hope) they come to understand because the people are speaking.” Brother Allen Marquez, of the Brotherhood of Hope, which ministers to the Catholic students at FSU, helped lead the group on what he called a “pilgrimage and a sacrifice,” that includes a 15–hour bus ride each way from Florida’s capital to the nation’s capital. This marked his 10th year at the March for Life, and it probably won’t be his last. “If we can change one heart at a time, I am going to keep on being here.” Cheryl Delacruz, a student from Ave Maria University near Naples, also wants to change hearts. As she stood outside the Verizon Center rally site with a group of 15 of the approximately 50 fellow students from the southwest Florida campus who traveled to Washington for the march, she said they had attended a vigil Mass the night before at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and had prayed the rosary in front of the Supreme Court. “We’re marching in prayer — No. 1 — that it will bring about change in hearts, especially those who are considering abortion … that they’ll know the love of God.” Eight students from the Imago Dei (Image of God) pro–life group and two advisers from St. Leo University made the trip to the National Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument to hear speakers inspire the marchers. The student group supports the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. “We came today to represent those who can’t represent themselves,” said Magda Robles, assistant director of university ministry, “so those in the womb won’t be in the tomb.” Divine Word Father Stephan Brown, director of university ministry, said such a trip helps students grow and mature in their faith, helping them learn how to move faith into action and live out their faith. It is important for them to see that “public witness of their faith can change things.” Robles said it is significant that when the students return to campus with the message and a renewed passion for the cause, it makes a big difference. “When the message (to students) comes from a student, it sounds different,” she said. Edwin Ortiz, a St. Leo senior, said he had never had a chance to attend the march before this year, but that he hoped to be able to take the messages he had heard home. “I think we can make a difference being here. I myself can take it to my relationships and make it personal. I can share a personal message with people.” Chelsea Shoemaker, a junior at St. Leo, wanted to represent her school especially because so many on campus are pro–choice and supported Barrack Obama’s candidacy for president. “It’s good for them to see how serious we are.” She said the pro–life group has been persecuted and threatened on campus and that illegal, unapproved fliers have been put up around campus telling people where to get abortions. One way the small group hopes to make an impact right away is when the travelers make a presentation about their trip to the leaders of other campus clubs and organizations. “We hope that will touch their hearts” and that they will bring the information back to the groups they lead. “I guess so many people (at school) voted for Obama because they bought into the mass media instead of really paying attention to the issues. It’s the same thing on abortion; they don’t really know what happens,” Shoemaker said. Freshman Amanda Cassar hopes more students will attend next year. “The more we can get, the more we can spread it on campus.”
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