Professional Documents
Culture Documents
OUR MISSION
The mission of Students for Life of America (SFLA) is to end abortion in America by educating students about the issues of abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide; identifying pro-life student leaders; equipping student pro-lifers with the trainings, skills, and resources to be effective and successful; promoting student activity to other local, college and national organizations.
efforts.
Educate students through campus groups and social media outreaches like
abolishabortion.com about all threats to the dignity of human life including abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, and embryonic stem cell research.
Equip student pro-lifers with the skills necessary to be successful by providing
OUR HISTORY
Students for Life of America (SFLA) began in the late 1970s as C.A.M.P.U.S. and was later renamed American Collegians for Life (ACL) in 1988. From 1988 to 2006, ACL was a student-run volunteer organization that hosted an annual conference, developed a resource website, and produced a quarterly publication. Seeing the need for a more permanent organization in 2006, American Collegians for Life changed its name to Students for Life of America (SFLA), opened its first national headquarters in Arlington, VA, hired a professional staff, and launched its historic Pro-Life Field Program. Since 2006, Students for Life has helped start over 500 new student prolife campus groups, trained thousands upon thousands of young pro-lifers at its national and regional conferences and one-on-one campus trainings, and saved the lives of countless preborn children. The Annual Students for Life National Conference is now the largest pro-life conference in the country with 2012 attendance selling out at 2,000. In addition to starting and training student pro-life groups, SFLA has become a major player in the national pro-life movement through leading and participating in national coalitions such as De-fund Planned Parenthood and Stop the Abortion Mandate.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Leonard Leo, Chairman Mr. David Bereit Mrs. Debbie Cheatham Dr. Kirk Elliott Ms. Danielle Huntley Mr. Greg Mueller Mr. Sean OHare Mrs. Vicky Tiahrt Mr. Josh Mercer
We can see from the victories the pro-life movement has had in the past 4 years, despite the political obstacles in our nations capitol, that the abolition of abortion in our lifetime can actually happen. So how do you envision a world without abortion? Think about a society in which all life is treated as a precious gift. Where women and families in crisis can turn to community and government supported pregnancy help centers and their church family for support. Where our political leaders respect life and political parties try to prove who is more pro-life. Where adoption is tagged as a positive and brave option, and birth mothers are celebrated. Where Hollywood and the music industry promote life. Where no woman ever feels forced to choose abortion for the sake of her education, career, or family. Envision means to make our plans for post-Roe America now: to support and establish the structures we need, both on campuses and in our communities, to make sure no woman or family gets left behind. Envision a nation in which every woman facing an unplanned, crisis pregnancy knows there is a place she can turn to for help. It is this hope and knowledge that inspired our team to to make our 2011-2012 school year theme, Envision a nation without abortion. I hope after you read through this report from last school year, you will find yourself not just hoping for the end of abortion but envisioning its end, starting with this generation. Thank you for all that you have allowed us to accomplish last year. Our movement is expanding like never before, women and children are being spared from abortion, and the tide is turning on our nations campuses. For Life,
FIELD PROGRAM
Students for Lifes one-of-a-kind Field Program has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the organization over the last six years, taking us from 181 student groups when we started full time in 2006 to the over 700 we have today. Our Field Program is comprised of a national team whose job it is to manage and support all of our student groups across the country. We build personal relationships with student leaders and organizations by hiring full-time Regional Coordinators who are trained to work in specific regions throughout the college year with the focused mission of assisting pro-life students in starting new independent campus groups; building relationships with local pro-life organizations; and providing support and assistance to campus groups in order to help them educate their peers about abortion and provide resources to pregnant women and parenting students on campus. By having dedicated team members in specific regions, we are able to provide personalized support to our student leaders and groups, which in turn leads to the creation of long lasting, sustainable campus pro-life organizations. At vthe end of the 2011-2012 school year, SFLA had 4 full-time Regional Coordinators covering 11 states, with 2 more Regional Coordinators slated to join the team during the 2012-2013 school year. By June 2013, Students for Life Regional Coordinators will cover 18 states, putting us at 36% towards our goal of having Regional Coordinators cover the entire United States by 2016.
On October 8, 2011, Students for Life suffered a heartbreaking loss. While returning from a Students for Life Conference in Georgia, the car carrying our Field Director, Kortney Blythe Gordon, and Pregnant on Campus Coordinator, Jon Scharfenberger, was involved in a massive head on collision. Kortney and her 21-week preborn daughter, Sophy, were killed instantly. Jon Scharfenberger was taken to a local hospital with severe injuries and fought valiantly for ten days before finally succumbing to his injuries on October 18th. Our logo at SFLA is a candle lighting another candle, because that is our mission to inspire, train, and equip this new generation of pro-life leaders. The best way to sum up Kortney and Jons lives is to say that they lived their lives as such a candle, lighting candles, thousands of them, everywhere they went; Inspiring students to join in our cause, helping women facing real crisis, and saving countless lives. Kortney and Jon are extraordinary individuals who were determined to make their passion for the preborn and their mothers their lifes mission. We are all better people for having had Kortney, Sophy, and Jon in our lives, even if it was for all too brief a time.
In 2011-2012, SFLA:
116 groups Visited 256 campuses Trained 2,366 students Tracked 2,547 events
Started
metrIcS
Students for Life believes strongly in making sure the numbers we report are accurate, which is why we subject every one of the campus groups we work with to an audit at the end of each school year. Our auditing program is called the Preborn Rights Restoration Project, and it offers rewards to our highest performing student groups each year.
Here are some examples of just how alive and well the culture of death is on campuses around the country:
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY Early in the morning of April 20th, Students for Life received a call from our group at Western Kentucky University saying that the cross display that they had put up on campus to represent the 3,700 babies that die from abortion each day had been vandalized by a an art student who decided to put condoms on each of the crosses as a project for class. Our students called the campus police, who came out to the site of the vandalism, but once they arrived, they told our students that it was the other students 1st Amendment right to put condoms on the crosses and that there was nothing they could do because condoms arent vandalism. All involved refused to apologize and so our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom sent a legal letter requesting an apology from the art student and university police as well as any information regarding the incident that they might have such as who purchased the condoms. To date, WKU has refused to respond to this matter. This story made national headlines with SFLA President, Kristan Hawkins, appearing on FoxNews. When speaking about the incident, Hilltoppers for Life president, John Sohl had this to say our group was given some powerful insight into how effective we can truly be if we have enough passion, drive, and determination to stand up for the truth! NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY On Monday morning, April 9, 2012, Northern Right to Life (NRTL) set up a display that consisted of baby clothes hanging on a line, with a red X taped onto every fourth outfit to symbolize that every fourth baby is killed by abortion. The display was accompanied by a sign, which explained the symbolism with citations. The display was torn down both that Monday and Tuesday night. Because of the vandalism, group members decided to take shifts camping outside each night to watch the display. On Friday morning around 1 am, four young men showed up and proceeded to cut down the clothesline and throw the baby clothes - which were to be donated to needy children in the area into the trash. Thankfully, two dedicated pro-lifers were there to respond. While one called the police, the other took a picture of the vandals. When the perpetrators realized that they had been spotted, they started running. Thankfully, it didnt take long for the campus police to respond, and the fleeing vandals were caught. The vandals have since been charged with Criminal Mischief. UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO On October 4, 2011, Sara Buttitta, president of University of Buffalo (UB) Students for Life, informed SFLAs Northeast Regional Coordinator, Phil Eddy, that their Cemetery of the Innocents display, made up of hundreds of white wooden crosses, had been torn down by four unknown UB students.
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A blurry campus surveillance video showed four individuals ripping the crosses out of the ground and shoving them into trash bags. The campus police were able to recover the bags and return them to the group, and UB Students for Life re-assembled the display that afternoon. Later that day, Sara alerted Phil that two more students a male and female had been arrested after they were allegedly seen kicking crosses over and ripping them out of the ground! Sadly, this didnt stop the vandalism. The day after the first two incidents and arrests, a group of eight individuals were caught attempting to destroy the crosses again! Students from UB Students for Life who were keeping a watchful eye on the display after the initial attacks witnessed a small group of women forming at the display. Two began to rip up the crosses, and someone described as older, at least 40 years old, and possibly a faculty member reportedly yelled Hey ladies, lets start a riot. This incited six more people to begin tearing up the crosses, which continued until campus police arrived. Despite these obstacles, the UB Students for Life group continued to stand strong for Life and even ended up receiving the 2011 Students for Life of America Group of the Year Award at the SFLA National Conference. DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY In April 2012, Dartmouth Universitys pro-life groups, Vita Clamantis, Cemetery of Innocents display faced some serious opposition not only from pedestrian protestors but also a car, which allegedly drove through the display and then continued down the street. This vandalism didnt daunt the group as they simply re-set up their display of 546 American flags, which represented the 54.6 million Americans who had been killed by abortion since Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were handed down in 1973 and hosted a moderated discussion about the display and the abortion.
BaBy SaveS
For the first time our students began sharing with us stories of the lives that had been saved as a result of the work of their groups. Below are some of the wonderful stories we received.
FACEBOOK, JULIA & ASHER Last summer Julia, one of our Missionaries for Life and Founder of Students for Life at the University of Arkansas, posted a simple fact about fetal development on her Facebook profile. A friend of Julias saw it and reached out to her saying he thought she was pro-life and wondered if Julia could help him convenience another friend not to have an abortion. She did and in January, Asher Zane (pictured left) was welcomed into the world. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY A week after the group was started with the help of SFLAs Pregnant on Campus Coordinator, Jon Scharfenberger, 5 members went to pray at Miamis largest abortion clinic, A Womans Choice.
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They spent an hour or so silently praying and noticed a young woman, around 18 years old, enter the abortion clinic. She came out twice within the hour but went back in both times. Then, another hour later, she came out of the facility, noticeably upset, and went over to the students who were praying. She informed them that she had been scheduled for an abortion but did not go through with it after seeing them praying. She noted that seeing young people her age praying made her rethink her situation. INDIANA PURDUE UNIVERSITY Gaby, the group president, reported that during the groups weekly sidewalk counseling a young woman went into the Planned Parenthood and then came back out. She told Gaby that she was 14 weeks pregnant and couldnt go through with the abortion because, through the groups witness in front of the Planned Parenthood, she knew that her baby had a heartbeat. MOORPARK COLLEGE The Students for Life group was using SFLA posters and fliers from our Events in a Box campaign to educate and engage their campus. Although the posters were vandalized almost immediately, the students were able to use this as an opportunity to engage with their peers. The result a young mother who was contemplating abortion choose life after a pro-life student shared information on fetal development and took her to the pregnancy care center nearby for additional information and counseling. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (as told by member, Helen Nguyen) A young woman named Maria came up to me at a campus event and told me she was pregnant and contemplating an abortion. I asked why she was thinking of doing this. She told me her boyfriend is African American and that her parents didnt want a black grandchild. Her parents were also afraid that she wouldnt finish school and that this baby would ruin her life. She was afraid that if she kept the baby she would be cut off from her family, the financial support they were providing her during school, and that she would not be able to care for herself and a baby. At the end of the event, I reassured her that if she decided to keep the baby, there would be a family of people ready to help her. I gave her my contact info and told her to contact me anytime. A week later, Maria asked me to meet for coffee, little did I know, Maria wanted to tell me in person that she had decided to keep her baby. That regardless of what her parents wanted her to do, she was going ahead with the pregnancy. For the rest of the meet up, we talked about all the resources wed be able to connect her with. How she was not alone and that if she needed anything we were there for her. REBECCA & DYLAN In front of the abortion facility, Rebecca, vice president of Providence Colleges Students for Life group, had a lengthy conversation with a young mother contemplating abortion. The young mother seemed like she was going to choose life but still went inside the abortion facility. Rebecca returned to campus feeling rejected but continued to pray for the young mother. Later that day, the young mother called Rebecca to inform her that she was keeping her child! The turning point; viewing a graphic photo of an aborted child that Rebecca gently showed her! Unfortunately, the young mother was stuck at Planned Parenthood as she had no ride. So, Rebecca and her friend Dylan quickly jumped in their car, picked her up, and drove her home. Rebecca and Dylan continue to be in touch with this young mom and are eager to do whatever they need to do to show her that they are there to support her.
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wa 8 mt 2 or 12 id 1 wy 1 nv 5 ca 65 nd 5 sd 6 ne 6 ut 1 co 7 ks 9 ok 5
az 15
nm 3
tx 33
ak 1
12
nh 3 vt
me 1
mn 18
wi 21
mi 36
ny 33
ma 11 ri 2 nj 17 de 1
ia 15
il 34 in 18 ky 13
pa 37
oh 32
wv 6
va 26
ct 8
mo 28
tn 12
md 8
dc 8
nc 13 sc 10
ar 14 ms 9 la 21
al 9
ga 16
fl 20
hi
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Leslie Bosslet, Truman State University Chris Buerke, Truman State University Lindsey Frechou, Spring Hill College Shara Guengerich, Providence Christian College Anne Morse, University of California at Berkley Cathy Phillips, Rockhurst University Ruben Verastigui, Northwest Vista Community College
2012-2013 WILBERFORCE FELLOWS Founded in 2010, our Wilberforce Leadership Fellowship selects highly motivated student pro-life leaders who are planning a career in the pro-life movement, matches them with a pro-life mentor, and trains them in leadership principles they will need to become an effective leader in the pro-life movement. The intensive program requires participation in the 3-day summer training program, participation in bi-weekly conference calls, and regular mentor discussions. Our third class of Fellows are a smart and energetic group who we look forward to doing great things in the pro-life movement. OUR 2012-2013 WILBERFORCE FELLOWS: Michael Acquilano, Ave Maria Law John Sohl, Western Kentucky University Anne Morse, University of California-Berkeley Grace Daigler, Franciscan University of Steubenville Reagan Nielsen, University of Missouri; Christian Andzel, University of Buffalo Ashley Price, Mercer University Erin Komornik, DePauw University Megan Shane, Seton Hall University; Erin Stoyell-Mulholland, University of Notre Dame Amy Gembara, Fordham University
MENTOR:
Steve Aden, Alliance Defending Freedom Ryan Bomberger, the Radiance Foundation Steven Mosher, the Population Research Institute Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America Jill Stanek, jillstanek.com Tom McCluskey, Family Research Council Peggy Hartshorn, Heartbeat International Stephanie Gray, Canadian Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America Jeanne Monahan, Family Research Council Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life
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natIonaL conference
On January 22, 2012, Students for Life held the largest prolife conference in the nation for the 3rd year in a row. 2,000 students from across the country were in attendance at this sold-out event for a day of workshops, networking, and presentations on how to envision a world without abortion. There are no words to really accurately describe the energy and enthusiasm of these passionate, young pro-lifers. The evaluation forms, thank you cards and e-mails we have received since have proven that those who attended left even more excited than when they arrived thanks in part to our amazing line up of speakers which included David Bereit of 40 Days for Life, Stephanie Gray from the Canadian Center for Bio Ethical Reform, Former Governor Mike Huckabee, Lila Rose of Live Action, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, and Chai Ling from All Girls Allowed.
The conference was also an opportunity for us to honor some of our outstanding student groups. The 2011 National Conference Award winners were:
IMPACT FOR LIFE AWARD - NATIONAL PRO-LIFE YOUTH CONGRESS, OHIO The PLYC is designed for students from 7th-12th grades who are ready to stand up in their community for the preborn. Every year, they organize four conferences and provide education and guidance to develop community and school pro-life groups that fight for the rights of the preborn. NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD - UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO STUDENTS FOR LIFE, BUFFALO, NY UB SFL has formed a solid coalition with community and campus groups and are active on their campus hosting education displays and presentations. In the midst of all of their successes, they have faced constant discrimination from their administration, faculty, student government and fellow students. During the Fall 2011 semester, they gained national media attention when their campus Cemetery of the Innocents display was vandalized multiple times. However, they bounced back to stand courageously for their rights and for the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves.
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TEEN GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD - ANGELS FOR LIFE, HOLY ANGELS ACADEMY, BUFFALO, NY During the 2011 school year, Angels for Life participated in numerous events at their school and in their community, including a diaper drive and car wash fundraiser to support their local pregnancy help center. They participated in the National Day of Silent Solidarity and the National Night of Prayer and frequently prayed for an end to abortion outside of their local abortion facility. They screened movies with pro-life themes and partnered with other clubs to boost attendance, reaching students who otherwise would not have heard the pro-life message. During National Adoption Month, this club hosted a fundraiser at a Wendys restaurant, which donated 10% of all sales one evening to the Baker Victory Services Adoption Agency.
regIonaL conferenceS
Every year, SFLA hosts several Regional Conferences across the nation bringing together local pro-life organizations and campus pro-life leaders. These conferences are intensive one-day seminars where group leaders are challenged to confront internal and external issues facing their group as well as make plans and timetables for future leadership transitions and events. During the 2011-2012 school year, SFLA hosted 7 Regional Conferences in Knoxville, TN; New York, NY; Macon, GA; St. Louis, MO; Ann Arbor, MI; and Seattle, WA.
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COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE THE TARGET MARKET FOR THE ABORTION INDUSTRY.
In order to transform our nation, we know that the pro-life movement must work towards making abortion unthinkable and unnecessary, by providing resources and support to those most vulnerable to the abortion industry. This led Students for Life to develop the Pregnant on Campus Initiative, which was launched in September of 2011.
able student pro-life organizations by establishing service projects to help women and families on campus and in the community; and To reduce abortion rates on college campuses by creating service projects that provide essential resources for students facing unplanned, crisis pregnancies
In our first year, we had 40 groups participate in the Pregnant on Campus Initiative and some of the things these groups were able to accomplish in that short time were:
Establish Pregnant and Parenting Assistance Funds, which are need-based scholarships to preg
nant and parenting students for books, etc Throw baby showers to help pregnant students get some of the items they need to welcome a baby Install diaper decks and lactation rooms on campus, which make it easier for parenting students to take care of their child around campus Advertise local Pregnancy Help Center resources so that young women know who to call if they find themselves facing a crisis pregnancy Conduct diaper drives to help lift some of the financial burden off of new parenting students Fundraise money for Mobile Pregnancy Resource Centers
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EVENTS
Throughout the year, Students for Life of America hosts several events across the nation to better acquaint our supporters with our mission, programs, and successes. The SFLA team appreciates each opportunity we receive to meet with dedicated supporters. We thoroughly enjoy introducing them to local student leaders and sharing stories about how their support is changing our nation. If you want to tell others about SFLAs life-saving mission, we are happy to organize an event in your community as well!
Summer SocIaL
On a beautiful rooftop deck overlooking the White House, Students for Life held its 4th Annual Summer Social on July 14th, 2011. We were pleased to present our William Wilberforce Leadership Award to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for his tireless efforts to protect the preborn. Upon receiving the award Cuccinelli remarked We often forget the most recognized words from our Declaration of Independence, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator their creator, with certain unalienable rights, [of] life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that Governments are instituted amongst Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. We dont have any other rights if we dont have that first one. On July 17, 2012, SFLA held its 5th Annual Summer Social at the same beautiful rooftop location. The 2012 Social was our largest one yet with over 80 supporters in attendance. This year, SFLA awarded U.S. Congressman Trent Franks our William Wilberforce Award and were excited to have pollster and media pundit, Kellyanne Conway, as our Keynote Speaker to kick-off SFLAs Fall 2012 I Vote Pro-Life First Campus Campaign.
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2012 HANS AND SOPHIE SOPHIE SCHOLL AWARD WINNER: CATHERINE PALMER
Under her leadership as Students for Life president at William & Mary, Catherine helped her club participate in SFLAs Pregnant on Campus Initiative, fundraise to bring diaper decks to their campus and helped to make their school more welcoming to pregnant and parenting students. Her group has also worked to combat the efforts of Planned Parenthoods VOX group on campus by attending meetings and witnessing to the Truth. They have held a variety of events, including a screening of the documentary Blood Money, pro-life flyering campaigns, regular visits to local nursing home and counseling outside of abortion facilities, free babysitting nights on campus, and Christmas Card campaign for local mothers.. Catherine is a 2011-2012 SFLA William Wilberforce Leadership Fellow and this summer will begin working full-time for the pro-life, abstinence group Generation Life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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MedSFLA
Since 1973, one area that has been largely untouched by the pro-life movement has been medical schools. From day one, a pro-life students beliefs will be directly challenged in medical school, and, yet, their beliefs on abortion and value of human life will be put into practice every single day of their medical career. Without any real support for pro-life medical students, our movement risks losing future pro-life physicians as once pro-life students acquiesce to the values set forth by their proabortion professors for fear that their career will suffer. This led us to launch Med Students for Life of America (MedSFLA) in the fall of 2010. The vision and purpose of MedSFLA is to be a national network of future medical professionals committed to developing sustainable patient health care, by advocating person-centered medicine. MedSFLA believes in rediscovering the patient and doctor relationship with care for every patient regardless of race, developmental stage, socioeconomic status, and special needs. Our priority is to change the culture of medicine, one physician at a time, by making sure pro-life medical students graduate medical school and are placed in high-quality residency programs. Since its launch, MedSFLA has been gaining significant momentum. During the 2011-2012 school year, we started 16 new groups, and, as of June 2012, there are 34 active MedSFLA groups nationwide. In addition to founding pro-life medical school groups, MedSFLA held its 2nd National Spring Speaking Tour during March and April of 2012. During this time, MedSFLA traveled with former abortionist turned pro-life OBGYN, John Bruchalski, and visited 23 medical school campuses in just 15 days.
Biosciences University of Southern California University of Arizona-Phoenix AT Still University University of Arizona-Tucson University of Texas-Houston (co-hosted with Baylor University) University of Texas Medical Center at Galveston George Washington University University of Virginia Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Jefferson College of Health Sciences) University of Pittsburgh Boston University Wayne State University University of Minnesota Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Nebraska University of Texas-Southwestern Texas A&M University Indiana University
This June, MedSFLA launched the first-ever externship for pro-life medical students, welcoming 3 medical and 3 pre-med students to our national headquarters. The MedSFLA Externs participated in a weeklong Distinguished Lecture Series before heading off to their externship sites across the nation.
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During the Distinguished Lecture Series, MedSFLA Externs heard from leading specialists and bio-ethics experts such as:
Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D., M.A.C.P. Past Chairman, Presidents Council on Bioethics John Carroll Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Georgetown University Colleen M. Gallagher, Ph.D., MA, LSW, FACHE International Ethics Expert, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights Executive Director: Section of Integrated Ethics, MD Anderson Cancer Center Henk A.M.J. ten Have, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Professor, Center for Healthcare Ethics: Duquesne University Director, UNESCO Division of Ethics of Science and Technology Obadias Ndaba President, World Youth Alliance Rwanda, Universite Libre de Kigali Francis X. Shen, J.D., Ph.D. Past Associate Director, MacArthur Foundation Law and Neuroscience Project BA, University of Chicago; JD, PhD, Harvard University Martha Shuping, M.D. United Nations Panelist, NGO Consultant M.D., Wake Forest University: Bowman Gray School of Medicine Daniel Daly, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, St. Anselm College Ph.D., Boston College Paul C. Vitz, Ph.D. Professor and Senior Scholar, Institute of Psychological Science Ph.D., Stanford University
Jennifer Hong
Bowdoin College
Carolyn Dufresne
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SPECIAL PROJECTS
With multiple national events and the looming 2012 election bringing the abortion issue back into the national spotlight, 2011-2012 became a busy year for Students for Life activism.
As part of our I Vote Pro-Life First Initiative, we held our first ever I Vote Pro-Life First Get-OutThe-Vote (GOTV) training weekend in June 2012 in Wisconsin. 17 of our most dedicated students traveled to Racine, Wisconsin where they partnered with CitizenLink, Focus on the Familys 501(c)(4) arm, to hand out educational profamily candidate information cards before the June Recall Election. And it worked! Our intrepid GOTV Squad knocked on 10,000 doors in just four days! In the fall of 2012, SFLA rolled out our I Vote Pro-Life First Pledge and GOTV education trainings on college campuses and communities nationwide.
THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT ORGANIZING As you read through this report, you have seen case after case of our students making an impact on their campuses, in their communities, and even on Capitol Hill. One of the biggest issues we have as an organization is that our name is Students for Life and that when people hear the word students they automatically think young, apathetic, and unorganized. They couldnt be more wrong. Students, when given the right tools, are often energetic and passionate about getting the job done and getting it done right. They can mobilize at a moments notice and arent afraid to work long hours and get paid in pizza. And as you can tell from this report, unorganized is certainly not a word that can describe Students for Life of America. We have the vision, goals, and strategies needed to abolish abortion in our lifetime. Its time we start taking the word students more seriously because they are changing the world, one campus at a time.
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NEW MEDIA
New media continues to have an enormous impact on every organizations ability to make the maximum impact in a very short amount of time. Students for Life continues to be ahead of the curve by using all channels of new media to alert our students and supporters of breaking pro-life news, important events in their area, and key action items they can do to take a stand for Life. Weve even see lives saved as a result of our passionate students posting pro-life messages and facts on their personal Facebook and Twitter accounts. Read about Julia and Ashers story on page 12. Our Facebook Cause, Abolish Abortion, with over 630,000 members is the largest pro-life Facebook Cause in the world. As you can see from the numbers below, SFLA witnessed a steady increase in support for our new media sites during the 2011-2012 school year, which was significant since we didnt spend any money advertising the sites to gain followers. 2010 FOLLOWERS SFLA FACEBOOK FAN PAGE SFLA TWITTER MED SFLA TWITTER YOUTUBE PINTEREST TUMBLR
1,258 1,028 0 179 0 0
2011 FOLLOWERS
3,735 2,674 442 332 0 0
2012 FOLLOWERS
7,549 3,878 779 512 196 152
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LEADERSHIP TEAM
K rIStan haWKInS
PRESIDENT Kristan was hired in 2006 to become Students for Life of Americas (SFLA) first Executive Director. Since launching SFLAs full-time operation, Kristan has helped more than triple the number of campus pro-life groups in the United States, from 181 to almost 700 in 49 states, and grow the SFLA National Conference from 450 in 2007 to 2,000 in 2012, making the event the largest pro-life conference in the nation. As President, Kristan directs the mission and strategy of Students for Life of America. In addition, Kristan serves as the organizations official spokeswoman and has appeared on Fox News, CNN, EWTN, Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson and the Christian Broadcasting Network; she is a frequent blogger for LifeNews.com and has also been quoted in numerous national and regional newspapers such as the Washington Times, Washington Post, FoxNews.com. A dynamic speaker, Kristan travels the country talking to students and adults alike on a wide range of topics including Planned Parenthood, Real Feminism, Real Social Justice, Pro-Life Activism and Leadership. Since high school, Kristan has been an advocate for the unborn and pro-life speaker/trainer. Her pro-life mission began when she was asked to volunteer at a Pregnancy Resource Center during her sophomore year of high school. After spending 3 months counseling women not to abort their children, Kristan started the first pro-life group at her high school and eventually was asked to be the West Virginia Teens for Life President. It was during high school, where Kristan organized her first political protest and events aimed at educating students about abortion. Kristan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bethany College in West Virginia. Before coming to SFLA, Kristan worked for the 2004 Bush/Cheney re-election campaign, the Republican National Committee, and served as a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Since working at SFLA, Kristan has been awarded the Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Award, the Dr.
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William Hogan Education Award for pro-life leadership, the 2009 Weyrich Youth Leadership Award, and a 2010 Life Prize Award. Kristans work and passion for the unborn has been featured in numerous publications, most recently in National Review Online, the Washington Times and Citizen Magazine. Kristan resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, Jonathan, and 2 sons, Gunner and Bear.
tIna WhIttIngton
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT In 2010, Tina returned to full-time pro-life work at Students for Life after spending 8 years raising her family. As Executive Vice President, Tina is responsible for managing the daily operations of SFLA. Previously Tina worked with Rock For Life as Project Manager. While there she put together pro-life literature, wrote for the monthly newsletter, spoke at high schools and colleges, and organized events. She left Rock For Life in 2001 to focus on her growing family. For the past 6 years she has also worked as staff on her local Rachels Vineyard Retreat team, helping post abortive women and men through the grieving process. Tina graduated from Portland Community College with an Associate of Arts degree. She lives in the Fredericksburg, VA area with her husband of 14 years and their four children: Justus, Mason, Asher and Esther.
Brendan omorchoe
NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS Brendan is a 2011 graduate of Fordham University where he earned a B.A. in philosophy with a minor in political science. For two years, Brendan served as the President of the Respect for Life club at Fordham and oversaw significant increases in membership and on-campus presence. He has coordinated with student pro-life groups across the northeast, helping them grow and fostering a network of pro-life students in the region. He has also worked with pro-life organizations throughout the New York City area trying to establish a Culture of Life in the region.
WHATS NEXT?
January 22, 2012 marked the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions, which legalized abortion in all nine-months of pregnancy, for any reason. That day began the 40th full year of legal abortion in America. Just because abortion has been legal for 40 years, does not mean we are unable to turn back the clock and step into the Light. Abolishing legal abortion in America is possible within our lifetimes. We all know that the pro-life movement is winning like never before, and the entire team at SFLA truly believes that we are closer than we know to achieving victory. But we also know that 2012 will be a deciding year for the pro-life movement. And we know that our role at Students for Life is integral to this goal, and we must participate in all parts of our movement.
4 K ey a reaS StudentS for LIfe muSt engage and expand for the 2012-2013 SchooL year and Beyond:
1. CAMPUS ORGANIZING We need to make sure that not only do we continue our aggressive Field Program of starting, training, and equipping more student pro-life groups, reaching over 780 active groups by the end of 2013, but we also continue to educate and mobilize those students we work with and their peers about abortion, other life issues, and the importance of the 2012 elections by creating unique events and marketing plans for campuses.
i. Monthly Events in a Box offered to all active SFL groups ii. Educational Material and distribution to new and existing SFLA-affiliated groups, printed and online iii. Regional Trainings for groups in key demographic areas iv. National SFLA Conference v. Pregnant on Campus Initiative vi. Missionary for Life Summer Internship Program vii. Wilberforce Leadership Fellowship viii. Skype and/or in-person training consultations with active groups and leaders ix. Preborn Rights Restoration Project (funding successful, active SFL groups) f. Programs We Must Start i. Create new or revise leadership, apologetics, fundraising, and new media training seminars and materials ii. Launch Justice Week Campaign iii. Develop new campus image display regarding Personhood of the Preborn iv. Develop new Campus Planned Parenthood Kills display v. 40 Years of Abortion: Roe v. Wade Discussion Forum Law School Tour vi. Launch SFLA Summer Leadership Retreat vii. Create a Homeschool and Teen Farm Team Outreach Guidebook & Website
already has regional coordinator any other color group needs regional coordinator
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2. MEDICAL SCHOOLS Due to the aggressive actions of the Obama Administration, our outreach to Medical students is, unfortunately, needed like never before. Students for Life of America is the only organization engaging in this area. We must continue moving forward to organize MedSFL groups in medical schools, bring high-quality medical professionals as speakers to these schools, establish an externship and mentoring program for pro-life medical students, and defend the conscience rights of these students so that others will follow in their footsteps.
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c. Programs We Must Start i. Launch an aggressive Facebook advertising campaign to identify and educate pro-lifers on Facebook to join the Abolish Abortion Fan Page and Cause, the largest pro-life Facebook Cause in the world. ii. Work with public relations specialists to craft messages on social media sites that will compel readers to take action and improve impression rates of posts. 4. 2012 I VOTE PRO-LIFE FIRST GET OUT THE VOTE INITIATIVE In early 2012 Students for Life launched our I Vote Pro-Life First Initiative, which consisted of a pledge where we asked Americans to promise that the life issue would be the most important issue they looked at when deciding who to vote for, in any election. SFLA knew that if in order for our I Vote Pro-Life First program to be successful we had to first understand the current attitudes of young people. So in June 2012, SFLA commissioned a national poll, which surveyed 805 18-24 year olds about the upcoming 2012 election, unconstitutional HHS Mandate, and abortion, and the results were pretty incredible. One of the most sobering things we learned was that a third of those polled had no idea how radical President Obamas abortion record is. As the nations largest pro-life youth organization, we are in a unique position to get this message out to a large number of young people thanks to our extensive pro-life student group network, which is made up of over 700 campus groups in 49 states. Our all-encompassing I Vote Pro-Life First GOTV Education and Training program plan consisted of the following action items:
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Please consider starting or renewing your investment in the future of the pro-life movement today by visiting HTTP://DONATE.STUDENTSFORLIFE.ORG or by contacting Kristan Hawkins at KRISTAN@STUDENTSFORLIFE.ORG, 571-379-7261.
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