Jacob Hoback is starting up Students for Life, an anti-abortion group, despite opposition.
The topic of abortion is often regarded as controversial, but an Ohio University student wants to diversify the conversation on campus by introducing an anti-abortion group fall 2016.
Jacob Hoback, a freshman studying music composition, plans to start a chapter of Students for Life of America at OU, but has been met with criticism from his peers.
Hoback said he received “little love, and a lot of hate,” after posting in the Ohio University Class of 2019 Facebook page in December in order to gauge interest in the organization.
When he asked if students would be interested, Hoback was immediately answered with a short “no” comment.
“That is absolutely expected with any controversial group,” he said. “I understand those people are wanting to create a change, and I am wanting to create a change, and people get very passionate about these kind of issues, so you’ll have that.”
Students for Life is a nationwide anti-abortion organization and has chapters in high schools, universities, law schools and medical schools, according to the organization’s website.
Hoback’s group will advocate against abortion, educate students and help pregnant women through fundraisers for items such as diapers and other necessities for infants, he said.
“It got started because I realized there was no speech for the pro-life activists on campus,” Hoback said.
Hoback said he has since met with the OU College Republicans and the OU Newman Catholic Community — an organization aimed at bringing Catholic students together — to spread the word about the new chapter.
Anna Lippincott, president of the OU College Republicans, said she reached out to Hoback after she saw the Facebook post.
“A lot of people there are actually very passionate, looked very interested,” said Hoback, who spoke to College Republican members when he attended a February meeting.
Lippincott, a senior studying journalism and political science, said though she is pro-life, she doesn’t believe abortion is a liberal or conservative issue. She added that the College Republicans don’t identify as either a pro-abortion rights or anti-abortion group.
Cecilia Ellis, the president of Generation Action, a pro-abortion rights organization on campus, said Students for Life is entitled to its own opinion but feels the group is taking a step backward.
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“I’m 100 percent supportive of anyone who wants to help women, especially pregnant women, ... vulnerable women who need help,” said Ellis, a junior studying women’s, gender and sexuality studies and English. “What makes me nervous is the kind of help that they want to provide and how they want to provide that.”
Hoback said he welcomes all activists to join his organization.
“We want to make sure that everyone realizes that every life is equal, and if we want to be a generation of justice and activists, then we need to be activists for everyone,” he said.
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