Editorial: Abortion issue should remain a political priority

1973 seems like it was a pretty revolutionary year: The first cell phone call was made, light beer was introduced to the American market, Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” was released, and the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade was decided.

Jan. 22 was the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision in which, by a 7-2 ruling, justices decided that laws against abortion violated women’s rights to privacy. The ruling declared that abortions would be legal up until the point of viability, usually estimated to be about seven months, and gave states permission to regulate abortion further, beginning at the end of the first trimester.

According to the blog of The New York Times editorial editor, a recent Pew poll found that 53 percent of Americans in all age groups consider the legality of abortion to be “not that important compared to other issues.” This number has risen sharply in recent years: In 2006, 32 percent of the population considered abortion to be unimportant relative to other issues.

Considering that our access to information is rapidly improving, pervasive and growing apathy about this issue is shocking and troubling. The legality of abortion and related women’s health issues are extremely important to everyone on both sides of the debate. While Roe v. Wade overturned the states’ bans on abortions, it allowed states to implement restrictions past the first trimester to protect women’s health or to protect a potential human life.

Those who are in the 53 percent of the population that is relatively unconcerned with the legal status of abortion might think that Roe v. Wade will go unchallenged. However, in the past two years, 135 state laws have been passed which restrict or limit access to abortion or that seek to discourage women from having abortions. These include requiring women to receive prenatal ultrasounds prior to having an abortion, requiring wait times between counseling and the procedure itself. In five states, health practitioners are required to tell patients that personhood begins at conception. In 12 states, doctors must inform patients about a fetus’ ability to feel pain.

The debate over abortion is polarizing and fraught with emotion; however, the worst thing to do is to ignore the situation and not care at all. Last year, Gov. Tom Corbett defended Pennsylvania’s ultrasound laws by saying that women can just look away from the images if they don’t want to see them — and perhaps his recommendation is being heeded. Disinterest and lack of caring is growing.

Because of the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, students — both female and male — should take an interest in this case and what it means for our society and our legal system. Find out what your home state’s laws about abortion and women’s health care coverage are, and if you don’t agree with them, advocate for changes.

In 1973, colleges were rife with political activity, protests and people who cared about major political issues. Let’s take some inspiration from them and stop our country’s growing unconcern toward the issue of abortion.