As students walked through campus on Thursday afternoon, many caught sight of bright banners painted with statements such as: “57 Million aborted since Roe v. Wade” followed by “That’s 5,534 times the UST student body.” These signs were part of an effort by the Students for Human Life club to raise anti-abortion awareness during “Save the Humans Week.”

Sophomore Mary Kate Van Wagner, SHL secretary, helped plan the week’s events and said she was particularly passionate about participating in the quad demonstration.

“It’s one thing to sit in a room behind closed doors and complain,” she said. “But it’s another thing to get out there and to really try to create change and to engage people and talk about it.”

Sophomore Alex Mason noticed the banners and thought it was encouraging to see St. Thomas students taking advantage of the opportunity to express their beliefs.

“I thought that was very bold, and I know that they had different reactions from people,” Mason said. “I think it’s really cool that we have an environment on the St. Thomas campus where we can express our opinions and we can express what we value.”

In addition to the topic of abortion, sophomore Lauren Pyle, SHL vice president of communication, said the club focused on holding events that raised awareness about other issues, including “the pro-life perspective on euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.”

“We’re not just a pro-birth club; we’re a pro-life club. We’re about protecting life at all stages,” Pyle said.

Other events scheduled throughout the week included a talk on Tuesday by Teresa Collett from the St. Thomas School of Law about addressing the ethical dilemma of physician-assisted suicide. Internationally-known anti-abortion speaker Stephanie Gray spoke to students Wednesday about how to form a persuasive argument on the topic of abortion.

SHL also planned several events to engage students. Students went to pray outside of a local Planned Parenthood Monday and then gathered as a community to have a meal at Cossetta’s. Students will learn how to spiritually adopt a child at a retreat Saturday morning.

“We’ll have a (St. Thomas) alum … come and talk about how we can pray for unborn children in the womb,” Pyle said. “And then how we can pray that their parents make the decision to keep the child, so it’s kind of cool.”

St. Thomas philosophy professor Catherine Deavel, SHL faculty adviser, has been participating in “Save the Humans Week” since it began three years ago and said she is always amazed at how active the students are, even beyond the week’s activities.

Deavel added that this is an important subject for college students to consider because it boils down to the question of what makes a person human.

“What is a human being? What makes us valuable? Is it what you have? Is it your smarts? Is it your good looks? Is it your abilities?” Deavel said. “If it’s none of those things, and it’s something basic to being human, then we have a responsibility, and I would say an opportunity… to meet the needs of those who can’t.”

Margaret Galush can be reached at galu4637@stthomas.edu.