Georgetown University Right to Life, sometimes known as RTL, is a pro-life student club. Right to Life plays a major role in organizing the Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life, an annual pro-life conference held at Georgetown.
History
Right to Life was first mentioned in The Hoya in 19771. The club was initially denied university funding in 19792, but the student senate reversed the decision3. Right to Life describes itself as "dedicated to protecting human life from conception to death"4. In 1994, Jill Sawoski, president of GU Right to Life wrote an Op-Ed for the Hoya describing Right to Life and what kind of organization it sought to be. Sawoski wrote, "Right to Life encourages each student to encounter his or her own deepest beliefs about human life and its true worth, and determine his or her stand on the issue." Right to Life has continued to emphasize the nonpartisan nature of its club, including rejecting their affiliation with groups like Students for Reagan in 1983. 5
Offerings
Right to Life hosts a range of events, including but not limited to speaker events, bake sales, and diaper drives5. The club frequently tables in the Leavey Center and Red Square to advocate for pro-life views and share information about its services, which include babysitting and diaper donations.
Right to Life has hosted an annual Life Week, which features events focused on different aspects of the pro-life movement6. Life Week also features a Flag Day, where RTL members plant flags on Copley Lawn corresponding with the number of daily abortions in the US7. The club participates in the annual March for Life, a pro-life march held in DC. Participation in such events has been a Right to Life staple since at least 19778.
Right to Life also plays a significant role in planning and organizing the annual Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life9. First held in 2000, the O'Connor Conference describes itself as the largest student-run pro-life conference in the US10.
Right to Life operates a blog featuring commentary and reflections from members11.
- 1Freeh, John. "Abortion Foes Will Take Part in Rally Sat." The Hoya. 22 January 1977.
- 2Knisely, Ken. "SAC OK's Gay Group's Charter by 5-3 Margin." The Hoya. 2 February 1979.
- 3Kitsock, Greg. "Pro-Choice Group to Apply for Charter." The Hoya. 9 March 1979.
- 4Georgetown University Right to Life, About Us. https://gurighttolife.squarespace.com/welcome.
- 5Sawoski, Jill. "Right to Life and GU," The Hoya, Oct 25, 1994.
- 5Georgetown University Right to Life, Our Work. https://gurighttolife.squarespace.com/our-work.
- 6Schmidt, Katrina. "GU Right to Life Hosts Annual Life Week." The Hoya. 13 April 2018.
- 7Schmidt, Katrina. "GU Right to Life Hosts Annual Life Week." The Hoya. 13 April 2018.
- 8Freeh, John. "Abortion Foes Will Take Part in Rally Sat." The Hoya. 22 January 1977.
- 9James, Paul. "Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life continues to draw controversy, sparks petition." The Georgetown Voice. 30 January 2021.
- 10O'Connor Conference, Mission and History. https://www.oconnorconference.com/missionandhistory.
- 11Georgetown University Right to Life, Blog. https://gurighttolife.squarespace.com/blog.
