A pro-life student group at the University of Nottingham have denied affiliation to the Students’ Union on the grounds of their pro-life stance.
In an increasingly long list of instances of discrimination against pro-life groups at British universities, Nottingham Students For Life (NSFL) has found itself unable to be recognised as a society by the Nottingham Student Societies Council on the grounds of the Student’s Union’s own pro-abortion policies.
Being denied recognition as a student society limits what the pro-life group can do on the university campus in terms of; booking rooms for events and being entitled to funding from the university to attend conferences and run events.
Speaking with Right To Life UK, NSFL president, Julia Rynkiewicz informed us that the pro-life group was denied affiliation on the grounds that it conflicted with the Students’ Unions’ support increasing abortion access in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The Student Society Council were also apparently concerned about protecting students from harassment, although the pro-life group made clear that that was not their intention.
The NSFL president explained that the group was formed to encourage debate and discussion or pro-life issues and to advocate for pregnant women on campus by ensuring they have options other than abortion available to them.
Some members of the Student Society Council, who are supposed to assess the fitness of any particular group in becoming a recognised society, are understood to have directly protested against Nottingham Students for Life, raising questions about their impartiality in this regard.
Julia Rynkiewicz, president of NSFL said:
“The Students’ Union are meant to reflect the diversity of our student body. However, in advancing their own extreme abortion agenda and rejecting any sort of pro-life opposition, they are going against their own policies.”
“The fact that the pro-life view is a minority one on campus should not take away our right to exist as a society at the university. We do not hate, harass, judge or condemn anyone. We want every woman to be able to choose life”
Nottingham Students For Life will appeal the decision.
