A small group of students gathered under the Shafer Bell Tower Tuesday night for a candlelight prayer vigil in support of anti-abortion views.
As the vigil members bowed their heads in prayer, cars began honking their horns and cheers of approval could be heard -- but not from the under the bell tower.
A few yards away, pro-abortion protesters gathered on McKinley Avenue's sidewalk holding signs saying "Honk for a woman's right to choose," among other slogans.
Sophomore Doug Burns said he organized the 17 protesters because he felt that both sides of the abortion issue should be represented as well as to counter the general apathy at Ball State.
"I'm trying to get people out there to say what they feel," Burns said.
Burns said he warned his fellow protesters to avoid getting out of hand or aggressive because their message would be lost.
"When we go out there we really need to be more respectful than anything else," Burns said.
Mark Pike, senior campus minister at the Christian Student Foundation, Debi Haug, campus minister at St. Francis of Assisi Church and the five students who met for the prayer vigil tried in vain to light candles as the icy wind blew about them.
"We are meeting for the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and the Sanctity of Life Sunday and for respecting life and being visible in prayer about that issue," Pike said.
Pike said the Sanctity of Life Sunday is a day when many churches remember millions of children who died because of abortions.
Sophomore Alicia May, who is a member of the Christian Campus House, helped organize the prayer vigil.
"All life is valuable, and so it is important to show awareness," she said.
After they finished praying, the vigil members began their walk back to the Christian Campus House to attend a prayer service and short presentation by Pat Rivest from the Heart to Heart pregnancy clinic in Muncie.
The protesters marched on the opposite side of McKinley Avenue for the walk to the Campus House on Riverside Avenue.
"I think the presentation says a lot," senior Nathan Brown, a member of the prayer group, said. "We're not using vulgarity or slamming this into someone's face."
Member of the protest, junior Ryan Puzzello, said the idea of an open forum for ideas is why many students go to college, and the protest was an example of the right to speak one's mind.
"If they noticed us then it was definitely a success," Burns said. "I wouldn't have hoped for anything better -- except maybe better weather."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
