UConn College Republicans

By: Hannah Lovell

Pregnant? Need help? Watch out for fake clinics! Those Crisis Pregnancy Centers are only out to force their judgment upon anyone daring to disagree with them.

Okay, time to get real. You’ve seen those pink posters around campus by now. They give an example of a CPC ad and warn you against them because they are “fake” and “outnumber real clinics 2 to 1.” Sounds like a reasonable thing to post around campus. No one wants to see a young woman tricked, and especially not in such a time of fear and uncertainty. Right?

To get a better understanding and to be able to forewarn others about these “fake clinics,” I made a call to the Women’s Center. I simply asked why they were considered fake, but my question was not understood. Rephrasing my question, I asked about the difference between CPCs and “real clinics.” What could they do to provide “real help?” The answer was that they do not provide accurate information to women, nor do they make all options available. And why would that be? Because they are staffed by “anti-choicers.”

Having worked in a CPC before, I understand that they are pro-life and that they do discourage abortions. However, I also understand that they explain the abortion process at different stages of the pregnancy, offer free pre and post-abortion counseling and continue to fully accept, embrace and provide much needed aid to women who do make that decision.

In addition to that, they provide other free counseling, free pregnancy tests, free rides to doctor appointments and free parenting classes among many other services. The women are rewarded for completing the parenting classes or for attending counseling sessions with vouchers for free supplies such as baby food, formula, diapers, maternity clothes or larger items such as strollers or changing tables. Women are also often connected to a local family who would like to adopt their child or to a trusted adoption agency.

So, let’s see… Transportation, clothing, self-help education, food and good friends to turn to when things get tough. Thorough explanations of the different stages of pregnancy, as well as an in depth look at the baby’s development. Full support whether choosing adoption, abortion or to raise the child oneself. Sounds real enough to me.

Hey, UConn… Watch out for fake posters.