When playing politics, government departments must act as leaders, not neutral administrators, in supporting a view.

At last week's Undergraduate Student Government Department of Women's Concerns meeting, some students said they could not remain in the group as long as it promoted pro-choice activities. The department supports a woman's right to choose in the abortion debate.

Any organization that represents part of the population reserves the right to remain political. The department was founded to celebrate, support and promote all women; if members believe achieving that goal means supporting the pro-choice movement, they can make that decision.

Certainly the department should sponsor events that present both sides of the issue, so people can hear all arguments and form their own opinion. But the department needs to concentrate on its stance, especially now, when the struggle to maintain a woman's right to have an abortion is so important.

Supporting the Nov. 12 rally in Washington, D.C. that will promote abortion rights is a needed step to furthering the department's stance.

Hopefully, this issue will not prevent pro-life women from joining the Department of Women's Concerns. The department currently may be focusing on pro-choice events, but it needs to remain involved with other issues pertaining to women as well. Women who do not support the pro-choice movement can participate in these events.

An organization founded on political aims cannot help but be political; to expect the Department of Women's Concerns to serve as a neutral group is to undermine its purpose.