The National Organization for Women's Pennsylvania chapter declared a "state of emergency" over a U.S. Supreme Court case which could be used to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case which established women's rights to abortion.

The case, Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, involves Missouri statutes which restrict women's rights to abortion, NOW chapter chairwoman Chris Niebrzydowski said. The state asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review Roe v. Wade after the 8th Circuit Court struck down the statutes, citing the famed case as precedent, she said.

"Many legal experts feel that the decision might be put back to state rights," Niebrzydowski said. "If that's the route the court takes, abortion would be outlawed in (Pennsylvania)."

Individual state governments ultimately would decide the legality of abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned, a University professor of political science said. He noted, however, abortion has not been a partisan issue and Gov. Robert P. Casey's stance on abortion has not been clear.

"I don't know what Mr. Casey's position is going to be," said Edward Keynes. "He has given mixed signals on this."

Casey may not be prepared to make his own personal convictions the official policy of the Commonwealth, Keynes said.

Niebrzydowski described Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services as a political move on the part of the newly-elected Bush administration.

"They knew about the case before the election but chose to present it two days after when it would no longer be a campaign issue," she said, adding that the announcement came the day before Veteran's Day, a national holiday, minimizing public awareness and discussion.

Niebrzydowski called for public concern to keep Roe v. Wade on the books. "We hold the majority opinion but (the decision) could be overturned if it doesn't make itself heard loudly," she said. "The case will be heard in the court of public opinion."

A spokesman for the pro-life movement on campus said in this instance a majority opinion is neither clear nor is it necessarily appropriate.

"Whether a majority agrees is irrelevant," said Frank Arlinghaus, vice president of Penn State Students for Life. "I honestly believe it's not important. Even if 150 million people think something is a good idea, that does not make it a good idea."

Arlinghaus estimated that 60 percent of the population is undecided about the abortion issue. Most people don't understand the biological and legal implications which must be considered when ruling on this issue, he said.

"Most people are in a gray area," Arlinghaus said, adding, that many people are against abortion in some, but not all, cases. The remaining 40 percent of the population is evenly divided between pro-life and pro-choice supporters, he said.

A representative of the University's Ritenour Health Center said the national pro-life movement has been extremely well-organized in its bid to overturn Roe v. Wade. Congress has been lobbied effectively and the group has been vocal in airing its views, said Elaine Jurs, assistant director of the Office of Health, Promotion and Education.

"These people have been working tirelessly. Their views are passionate views," she said, adding that as far as the abortion issue is concerned, there is virtually no middle-ground. Citing the sensitive nature of the issue, Jurs stressed the importance of conducting "healthy dialogue."

"It's a real difficult issue on this campus," she said. "I think it's important that people try to respect each other's point of view."

Despite the organization's recent attempts, a panel discussion on the abortion issue has not been scheduled, Arlinghaus said.

Although Ritenour offers no pregnancy counseling, it does refer women to the proper downtown agencies. Jurs said most referrals go to Birthright, Inc. -- which assists women who have decided to carry a pregnancy to term -- or to Choice, which offers information on all pregnancy options.

Other agencies are also available, she said.

The Supreme Court's decision will not affect most pregnancy-information agencies because they offer a variety of other services, said Cathy Bouvia, outreach coordinator for the Centre County Women's Resource Center. Counseling services often provide pre-natal and gynecological information, she said.

Each year physicians perform 1.5 million legal abortions, according to an Associated Press report.

Jurs said some health care professionals are concerned that if the legality of abortion were to vary from state to state, a rift would develop between rich and poor women. Financially secure women who desire an abortion could afford to travel across state lines, but young and lower-income women would be at a disadvantage, she said.

"Outlawing it will not stop abortion," she said."I think we can pretty much be assured of that."

Prior to 1973, disadvantaged women had abortions regardless of the risks, Bouvia said. Back-alley abortionists and "quacks' inflicted serious injuries, sometimes resulting in the death of pregnant women. Many women who could not find a safe, legal means of abortion turned to unsanitary clinics, she said.

If Roe v. Wade were overturned, Bouvia said, "probably there would be a few doctors who would continue to conduct abortions regardless of the law because they felt it was the right thing to do."

A physician who conducted abortions illegally would risk the loss of a license or even a jail sentence, she said.