Six years later, as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia, he voted to retain a state law requiring women to inform their husbands before having an abortion.
Natalie Jolly, lecturer in women's studies, put together the six-person panel because she said she believes there is a lot of confusion about the consequences of Alito's confirmation.
Although abortion will be the main focus of the panel, the women will also discuss pharmacists' refusing to fill birth control prescriptions, abstinence-only sex education and other issues.
Jolly said the panel is targeted to undergraduate students because she thinks they do not get enough information about reproductive rights or about how Alito's beliefs will affect them personally.
"I think a lot of the coverage is really vague," Jolly said. "I teach an undergraduate class, and sometimes I feel like these issues are not put in a way that makes sense to them. I really want undergrads to understand what's going on and why it's important to care."
Personally, she said, Alito's confirmation worries her. "I think that it's one piece in this larger puzzle that's really taking control away from women," Jolly said. "I don't think this is the end of abortion in this country, but I think it's one more step closer to women having less control over their bodies."
Michelle Chronister, education coordinator at Planned Parenthood of the Susquehanna Valley, said she jumped at the chance to speak on the panel. She said Alito's nomination was an issue Planned Parenthood focused on because they want to promote positive and responsible public policy about reproductive health. "It definitely concerns us," Chronister said. "Planned Parenthood did come out and oppose the Alito confirmation. We worry what his confirmation to the Supreme Court will mean for reproductive rights and reproductive health."
The main point, Jolly said, is to help people understand that the confirmation affects women not only nationally, but locally as well, including students at Penn State.
There are dissenting opinions on campus regarding what effect Alito will have.
Lauren Becker (sophomore-advertising) said she realizes that Alito could affect abortion rights in the future and does not think that he was the best choice for the Supreme Court position.
"It would have been nice to have a woman replace a woman on the Supreme Court," Becker said, referring to the recent retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor. "Lately, there's been so much controversy over abortion rights, and I think with there being a strong Republican presence in the Supreme Court, there might be a possibility of a new law changing women's rights about abortion."
However, Vicky Cangelosi, who chairs the College Republicans, has a different opinion and said Alito will be a good justice.
"I'm really glad that he got confirmed," Cangelosi said. "I think that he's very in touch with what mainstream America wants. ... I don't think Alito's confirmation will lead to an end of abortion in the U.S."
