In the post-Roe era, national conversations about abortion and the morality of the practice have intensified, particularly among younger generations. Abortion has become a very controversial and divided issue, especially so for Gen Z and young people. A study from the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics found that abortion ranked among the top issues that Gen Z was concerned about in the 2024 election, with 23% of voters naming “reproductive rights” as the top issue. Amid this cultural divide, Students for Life, a newly formed club at Ames High, has emerged as a space for students who identify with pro-life values. It is the Ames High School chapter of the nationwide Students for Life organization.
“Our club exists to give a community for those who share our views on life and want to help life in the community. We believe life is valuable inside and outside the womb,” said freshman Grace Lake, a founding member of the club.
Founded in 1988 by students at Georgetown University, the nationwide Students for Life organization defines its purpose as “recruiting, training, and mobilizing the pro-life generation to abolish abortion,” according to its website. It has formed smaller groups and chapters across the country, made up of college and high school students. There are approximately over 2,000 SFL student groups in the USA.
“At the heart of the pro-life movement exists the truth that all human life is valuable regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, size, location, level of development, political or religious beliefs, etc…the lives of pro-life individuals (in how we treat ourselves and others) should be in contrast to the pro-abortion culture we live in,” said Caroline Wharton, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, in a November 2022 guest post.
In order to put these beliefs into practice, the club is planning to organize many events and collaborations with local organizations. So far, they have partnered with Martha’s House of Hope, which is a pro-life maternity home here in Ames, and are planning to collaborate with places like Food at First and Obria Medical Clinics. “We want to make a difference not only for pregnant women, but for people at all stages in their life that need a little support and a little love,” Lake said. The club has also connected with Iowa State’s Students for Life club as well as Pulse Advocacy, an Iowa pro-life organization.
Despite the club’s entanglement in a deeply controversial and divisive issue, it claims that it is not involved in politics or support for any political parties. Instead, it presents itself as a club that is mostly oriented towards community action, educating, and volunteering for local organizations.
“[People] believe that we’re very political,” Lake said. “We are actually not. The things that we do vary from educating to volunteering, but we don’t have any political activism. We are not forcing people to make a decision, we are just showing them that there are options. The main goal at the moment is to build a community of people so that they can know that they’re not alone.”
Despite this, however, the club has shown itself to be no stranger to controversy, and has amassed some backlash. Shortly after hanging up their posters throughout the school, many of them were torn from the walls, defaced, and vandalized, with pro-choice slogans written on them. Club members had to put up the posters for a second time, placing them near cameras.
“When we put up our posters the first time, they all got ripped down, even though they were approved by the school. It was just really disheartening at first to see how many people didn’t want this here,” said freshman Michaela West, another founding member.
“It’s been difficult at times because there are some people that have strong beliefs against us and may take that personally,” Lake said. One thing that has really inspired me is that what I am doing is with love, what we are doing is with love.” Lake says that Chapter 5, verse 10 of the Gospel According to Matthew serves as an inspiration to her: “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
However, some students on campus are more ambivalent or skeptical about the club.
“When I heard about it, I was against it…I strongly disagree with the fact that it should be banned entirely, just like I strongly disagree that it should be easily accessible for people who do it because it’s faster or more convenient,” said freshman Brodan Heuser, who defines himself as being “in the middle” with respect to the moral debate.
“After having a discussion with a founder, I learned that they are more of a volunteer group,” Heuser said. “Even though Ames is a left-leaning city as a whole, we shouldn’t shush other groups we disagree with…I think that they have a right to exist, and we should respect that right. We don’t have to agree with them, but we should still respect them, their opinions, and their right to exist as a club.”
Students for Life finds itself defending an unpopular position which is commonly associated with religious values and a traditional standpoint, making its message somewhat inaccessible for Gen Zers who identify as secular or progressive. In light of this, club leaders have encouraged open dialogue between people of opposing viewpoints.
“I think an important part is just listening and not going straight to just putting our opinion on people, but hearing what they have to say. There are lots of situations that simply have not been talked out…it’s great to open the door to conversation so we can communicate and understand each other better,” Lake said.
The club has positioned itself as being against forcing their opinions on others, adhering to the philosophy of dialogue and encounter. “What I always have to remind myself is that I can’t change people’s minds or hearts, only God can. I know not everybody believes that because not everybody is Christian or has my beliefs. But that’s something I just think about, because judging people and forcing your opinions on someone is never gonna get you anywhere,” said freshman Emma Warme, another founding member.
Though the club is still very new, it hopes that over the course of the semester it can get up and running in the hopes of building a core which will last for years.
“Our goal is just to build a strong foundation for our club and, you know, get it started, get a good start to continue for many years, hopefully,” Warme said. “We’re excited to start this and hopefully, in future years, perhaps make a greater and lasting impact on the Ames community.”
