Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Hie ©amecock House committee debates abortion by Valerie Matchette The Gamecock Lawrie Sikkema knows what it’s like to wrestle with the pain of having an abortion. Before she had a full-term pregnancy and a healthy child, the Columbia yroman had two abortions. So when she testified about the issue before the House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on Wednesday, she was speaking from experience. The subcommittee is reviewing a bill, the Right to Life Act of South Carolina, that would define when human life begins. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the judiciary subcommittee voted to adjourn debate. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which overturned Texas’ abortion ban because of the constitutional right to privacy, has been a cornerstone of the legal fight behind abortion since it was first rendered. South Carolina’s abortion laws have long conformed to the case’s precedent, but the bill under review would define human life as beginning at conception. Sikkema spoke about how the abortions she had in her youth affected her for the rest of her life. She said the procedures caused “devastating physical and emotional trauma.” “When I abruptly-ended my baby’s life, my body went into total shock, with my hormones out of control,” Sikkema said. She said she was plagued by guilt, enduring nightmares of babies chasing her with knives, and turned to drugs and alcohol for solace. “Emotionally, I was a wreck,” she said. Sikkema told the subcommittee scar tissue left in her fallopian tubes from the abortions caused her to lose her first pregnancy and made conception increasingly difficult. “I’m here for the unborn children who have no voice in government,” she said. “The people of South Carolina need to honor life in all stages.” Dr. Mark Ross of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia said current laws need to be revised because under their structure, a woman’s right to choose overrides a child’s right to live. “The only reason needed by the woman is simply the desire to terminate her pregnancy,” Ross said. He said the Roe v. Wade standard should be interpreted individually for each state. “Each state must settle the question of when life begins,” Ross said. “A definition of life must be supposed.” Ross uiged the lawmakers to get the bill through the legislature. “Do everything in your own power to restore sanity and morality to the laws of our land,” he said. Johnny Gardner, known for his daily,anti-abortion protests outside the State House, also spoke in favor of the bill, characterizing abortion as murder and citing Biblical passages to make his point. “To terminate the lives of unborn children is murder,” Gardner said. “Let’s do the right thing and outlaw childkilling.” Gardner said abortion goes against the Bible and God. “God hates hands that shed innocent blood.” Presbyterian minister Robert Slimp also quoted Scripture in his defense of the bill. “The Bible makes it abundantly clear that murder is a heinous crime, which God forbids in the sixth commandment.” Slimp said. “There is ample proof in the Scriptures that unborn babies in their mothers’ wombs are real persons.” Slimp then read excerpts from Jeremiah: before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou earnest out of the womb, I sanctified thee “I am convinced that human life begins at conception,” Slimp said. Chris Jueschke, CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Carolina, spoke against the bill, citing practical legal ramifications if it passed. “It will embroil our state in a series of expensive, losing legal battles,” Jueschke said. He said all kinds of problems could arise if embryos were given the same legal rights as adults. He questioned what would happen to children conceived in incarceration and asked whether mothers who had miscarriages would be entitled to benefits. This bill was the latest installment in a recent upswing of anti-abortion bills. Proposed “Choose Life” license tags would benefit pregnancy crisis centers, and the Unborn Victims Act of2001 would make it a crime for an aggressor to harm or kill an otherwise viable fetus. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com University Tuesday, April 24 ■ Larceny of checks, Preston Hall. Matthew Brodie said someone entered his room, took three blank checks and tried to cash them. Gavin de Luna said he saw two people rummaging through Brodie’s belongings in the room. Brodie said his door was locked when he left. There were no signs of forced entry. Reporting officer: L. Forte. ■ Larceny of bicycle. McClintock Residence Hall. Meghan Conklin said someone took her red and black Huffy mountain bike. The bike was secured on a bike rack with a combination chain, which was also removed. Total estimated value: $160. Reporting officer J. Coaxum. Columbia Wednesday, April 25 ■ Incorrigible child. 1525 Ilex St. Reporting officer R Kieode responded to a report of a juvenile who was out of control and not cooperating with her family. ■ Criminal sexual assault, 1000 Assembly St. (Heart of Columbia Inn). A woman told police that while she was staying at the Heart of Columbia Inn, a man who was staying with her forced her to have sex with him numerous times. Reporting officer: J. Rivers. ■ Animal cruelty, 3711 Relvedel Drive. Neighbors told reporting officer A. Ross the occupants of the house weren’t taking care of their two dogs. An animal control officer also came to the scene. After looking at the dogs and interviewing the residents of the house, the officers decided to take the dogs into custody. ■ Found property, 1620 Pendleton St. (National Advocacy Center). Ken Wofer said visitors to the NAC turned in a wallet they found on their way back from Five Points. Reporting officer: C. Stinney. ■ Burglary. 3408 Magrath St. Jackie Parks said someone entered his residence by kicking in the rear door. The victim reported that nothing seemed to be missing. Reporting officer: T. Dingle. ■ Information, 412 West Campella St. Don Ferguson said two men jumped his backyard fence and attempted to steal a boxer puppy from his yard. Reporting officer: K. Brike. ■ Public drunkenness. 1200 Gregg St. Lee Harris, 41, refused to leave the Verve Co. at 1127 Gregg St. Management escorted Harris off of the property. Po lice caught up to Harris a block away from the business, and reporting officer J. Whit tle discovered the man had slurred speech and looked very drunk. Arena from page 1 goal set up at what would be the end of the court in the new facility. Walvius said the new arena would assist in the university’s recruiting efforts, which would help the women’s team be competitive for a national championship. “This is really a big day for South Carolina women’s basketball,” Walvius said. Odom reacted to a comment McGee had made that he had used the arena to bring Odom here. “I was coming anyway,” Odom joked. The Gamecock b ‘ . j-'; has teamed up with Ford Motor Company to help you graduate in style with a brand new car! DUATING? WIN A FORD FOCUS! life at Carolina,” said Edgar, the Claude Henry Neuffer professor of Southern Studies. He reminded the audience of the Horseshoe’s varied history, which includes duels, riots and commencement ceremonies. “Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Horseshoe remembers. The Horseshoe remembers it all,” Edgar said. Sen. John Courson, a member of the USC bicentennial committee, talked briefly about the event and brought good wishes from the state legislature. “I bring y’all goodwill from the General Assembly, great weather, but John, I bring you very little money,” Courson joked. Fourth-year public relations major Mark Tibshrany, who attended the ceremony, said he thought the new card was an honor for the university. “I think this is special for the university during this bicentennial year,” Tibshrany said. USC kicked off the celebration of its bicentennial Jan. 10 and will hold the closing ceremony Dec. 19. The university was chartered as South Carolina College on that day in 1801 and opened its doors to students on Jan. 10,1805. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Postcard from page 1 had been the home of a first-day issue or cancellation since 1988. USC was chosen from 5,000 applicants for the card, Carrier said. USC President John Palms said the stamp was one of the high points in the university’s bicentennial celebration. “In January, we began the bicentennial celebration here on the Horseshoe, the site of the oricin.il Smith Carolina College,” Palms said. “Since then, the university has hosted an incredible array of events and celebrations, but none quite like this.” He also mentioned the postcard’s historical significance. “On this day in 1803, the board of trustees for South Carolina College adopted a seal and a motto for the university that clearly defined their hopes for this state and its citizens. Our seal depicts the harmonious and proper relationship between liberty and wisdom. And our motto reminds us that ‘learning humanizes character and does not permit it to be cruel,”’ Palms said. USC professor Walter Edgar talked about the Horseshoe’s historic significance. “Throughout its 200 years, the Horseshoe has been the focal point of “It didn’t make any difference to me.” But Odom said he was still excited about the new building. “Knowing that the building is a reality only makes my excitement much more,” he said. The university hopes to open the arena in November 2002. hi addition to USC’s basketball teams, the arena will be home to the Columbia Inferno, the city’s new professional hockey team, and will play host to concerts and cultural events. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com