What should’ve been a celebration of campus and community exposed a serious failure in student leadership.
On Sept. 6, the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) held its annual Sidewalk Sale. Aimed at welcoming students to campus, the event hosts a variety of student organizations, local businesses, and community services. One of the services present at the event was Mea Pregnancy Support Services, a Christian faith-based organization classified as anti-abortion by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.
Although ASUS might’ve been unaware of the Mea Centre’s anti-abortion leanings, the incident highlights the need for a thorough screening of vendors at the Sidewalk Sale, particularly for health and wellness-related services.
The Mea Centre doesn’t advertise itself as anti-abortion, but instead, directs you to contact them if you’re considering terminating a pregnancy. This type of marketing is what’s so concerning: young people facing an unplanned pregnancy are exceptionally vulnerable and prone to coercion. Someone facing an unplanned pregnancy should be aware of all of their options; instead, the Mea Centre considers recommending abortion outside their ‘scope’.
Though ASUS claimed they were unaware of the Mea Centre’s stance on abortion, a simple Google search, or a look at the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada’s webpage would’ve revealed the centre’s attitude on the topic.
ASUS responded to The Journal’s questions about the Mea Centre’s presence at the Sidewalk Sale with a complete lack of accountability. ASUS president, Ivana Drinziu, claimed they hadn’t received any feedback other than from the student who came forward, ultimately deflecting the blame from ASUS’s vetting process to the Sidewalk Sale attendees, who might not have picked up on the Mea Centre’s coercive tactics.
Without apologizing, Drinziu claimed ASUS plans to improve their screening process going forward. This comes across as a political band-aid statement, not met with transparency or accountability, to suggest that actionable change is underway within ASUS.
There are no excuses for letting an incident like this slip through the cracks. The university environment, with more freedom and a higher chance of alcohol consumption, can lead to unsafe behaviours and an increased risk of unintended pregnancy among students. Booths like the Mea Centre’s risk hitting home amongst young students, reinforcing notions of shame and self-hatred surrounding unplanned pregnancies.
Even if the Mea Centre didn’t reach any students in need of pregnancy support at the Sidewalk Sale, it made at least two students who came forward uncomfortable.
This isn’t the first time ASUS has allowed controversial booths at their Sidewalk Sale. Last year, the Sidewalk Sale featured a SHEIN truck parked alongside University Ave. Known for their negative environmental impact and exploitative labour practices, the SHEIN truck’s presence at the Sidewalk Sale was disappointing for students who pride themselves on attending an institution ranked sixth globally in sustainability.
If ASUS wants the Sidewalk Sale to remain a tradition welcoming first years to campus, they need to go beyond surface-level responses and prioritize taking accountability for their poor screening process.
Tags
Abortion, Asus, Editorial, Pro-Life, Sidewalk Sale
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