By MATEUS FERREIRA/Head Writer
The newly registered chapter of Students for Life at UT Tyler, invited a guest speaker from Christ Centered Abortion Recovery & Education (CARE), on Nov. 7 to discuss the effects of abortion.
What Is Students For Life of America?
According to its website, Students for Life of America is one of the largest and most influential pro-life groups. With 1,506 college chapters, the non-profit says its mission is to “recruit, train & mobilize the Pro-Life generation to abolish abortion.”
The SFLA has been a source of controversy, as different campus chapters have claimed their free speech has been suppressed by universities and other students.
According to the BBC, the president of SFLA, Kristan Hawkins, played a role in helping overturn Roe V. Wade. Since then, SFLA has helped push dozens of pro-life bills through state legislature.
On Dec. 4, Texas House Bill 7, which the group called “SFL Action Inspired,” took effect. According to the Texas Tribune, the Bill introduces the “bounty hunter” provision which awards money to anyone who sues enablers or providers of abortion-inducing medication. Supporters say the Bill will clamp down on illegal abortion, while critics claim the “bounties” will be used to enrich pro-life groups.
The UT Tyler Chapter
Kayleigh Sevier, the President of the UT Tyler chapter, explained that the group technically started in 2024 but only became registered in recent months. So far, SFL plans on doing informative tabling, hosting more speakers, and collaborating with UT Tyler’s chapter of Turning Point USA.
Sevier explained that choosing to keep an unexpected baby is a hard choice, but through campus outreach, they hope to lend support.
“We want to tell people that we have resources for women, and to help them, you know, make the choice of being pro life and having their child,” said Sevier.
Sevier said people should join the group if they want to amplify the Pro-life movement.
“Because we want to support women in the best way possible and in order to do that, we need a lot of voices,” said Sevier.
To join SFL, students can email or direct message @sfl_utt on Instagram.
Guest Speaker
The group hosted guest speaker, Andrea Sabillon, a board member of CARE. The faith-based pro-life organization’s website says it’s mission is to “restore the lives wounded by abortion and educate the community of its consequences.” They also “offer the hope of forgiveness God offers” to those who’ve already had the procedure.
Sabillon recounted her experience with receiving an abortion in college and regretting it. She said she became severely depressed shortly after and only forgave herself when she went to an abortion recovery program years later. The speaker explained that her faith helped her find peace.
“I believe that God created life and so if he’s the creator of life, then to talk about abortion, you have to talk about who actually created that life” she said. “And so that’s why I think it’s important that it’s Christ-centered.”
Although SFL occasionally hosts religious speakers, Sevier explained the group is secular.
One flier, brought by Sabillon, advertised CARE’s “abortion recovery Bible studies” and “recovery weekend studies.” Another claimed women who had abortions are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses. A small card explained that abortion experiences can cause symptoms like “Anger,” “Nightmares,” “shame” and “promiscuity.”
Studies on whether abortion causes mental illness are mixed. For example, the Journal of Psychiatric Research claimed that abortions are correlated with mental health-related hospitalization in the long term. On the other hand, the American Psychological Association claimed women who had abortions did not see a rise in mental illness.
Sabillon hopes her story will “help bring clarity” to anyone at UT Tyler thinking of having an abortion.
Be the first to comment