A motion that “the Pro-Life Club be disaffiliated for propagating harmful misinformation” has been voted against 227-125 by members of the Auckland University Student Association (AUSA) at a Special General Meeting on Wednesday July 18.
Following an anonymous complaint made to AUSA, the executive spoke extensively amongst themselves on whether to uphold the proposed disaffiliation, before deciding to put it up to an SGM.
The Association’s affiliated feminist group alleged on Facebook that “Pro-Life Auckland has continued to distribute misleading information in regards to abortion” and that “the latest pamphlet they dropped at major universities around NZ contained harmful information for women who may be pregnant.”
Advocates for the motion to disaffiliate the club displayed particular offence on Facebook to Pro-Life Auckland implying that abortions can be deadly following the first and only death of an Australian woman undergoing medical abortion, but did not mention the number of women who die while actually giving birth.
Conversely, opponents of the motion maintain that even if the pamphlet was distasteful, freedom of speech is about defending unpopular and unpleasant opinions. Blogger David Farrar pointed out that if distributing pamphlets that may skew people's views is a reason for disaffiliation, then Labour, National and Green groups should also face the axe.
AUSA Attempts to Abort Student Group
