This week, Penn State Students for Life is issuing a challenge to the Penn State community to learn the facts on some of today's most prominent human life issues such as abortion during Human Life Awareness Week (March 28-31).

Our scheduled films and speakers will cover many of the medical, biological, political, legal and even personal aspects of abortion, with discussions on infanticide and euthanasia as well.

We would like, in particular, to draw discussion from those who have opposing views on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings at 8 in 101 Chambers.

We frequently hold educational events such as this because we believe that human life issues are everybody's business, especially abortion. Here's why:

Abortion is not a woman's issue. Although we have had such Right-to-Life organizations as Feminists for Life of America and Women Exploited by Abortion (WEBA) out in full force for years, any intelligent adult should be able to exercise his or her Constitutional right to free speech on any issue that determines the fate of America's next generation.

Rather, abortion is a human issue, for half of all unborn children who perish by abortion are male (and if you ever encounter a woman who is considering aborting her unborn son because it's her body, ask her why is it then, that her body includes male parts.)

I am personally a strong feminist; I completely advocate a woman's right to exercise all of the freedoms of a man, in practice as well as in law. Yet, I must draw the line at murder.

Abortion is not a religious issue. Certain religious denominations take a specific stand on abortion (as they do on a countless number of other issues), but that hardly makes it a strictly religious issue. Penn State Students for Life has nothing to do with religion.

In fact, this semester's members have ranged from Protestants to Jews to Catholics to atheists. Rather, abortion is a moral issue.

And it is a moral issue only to the extent that we advocates of life believe that, except when one's life is endangered, the intentional destruction of another living human being is murder, and that murder is wrong. Period. Regardless of the age or independence of the victim.

So the next time you accuse a Rightto-Life group of imposing their morality on others, remember the woman who, on her own, decided that her son or daughter should die.

And, finally, abortion is not a private issue. It is an issue that affects us all, particularly our not-yet-born children and new mothers in need of help. A woman facing a problem pregnancy needs the caring help of her family and friends, so that she and her child can continue to live.

Students for Life will be presenting some feasable alternatives to abortion with the Crisis Pregnancy Center and Birthright at 8 in 101 Chamber this Wednesday night. So you see, abortion is a public issue for which we must all take responsibility.

Regardless of our sex, religion or private moral beliefs, we must see to it that all human life is considered sacred, and that women with problem pregnancies are offered all the help they need to fulfill their responsibilities as mothers.

So accept the challenge; learn the reality that hides behind the myths, misconceptions, and rhetoric surrounding the multi-faceted issue of abortion.