Six women from academic and professional fields spoke out last night in political and societal support of women's reproductive and abortion rights.

The panel, held in the HUB Auditorium and attended by about 70 people, was titled "Alito Is In. Are Your Rights Out?"

Natalie Jolly (graduate-women's studies) introduced the panel to the audience. She said they had begun planning the event before Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's confirmation to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

"[It] made a lot of people concerned about where things are going in the future," Jolly said. "What is the future of our reproductive rights?"

Phyllis Mansfield, a professor in the women's studies department, said things were getting worse for abortion rights. She cited that 80 percent of counties had no abortion clinics and that 58 measures had been enacted in 2005 restricting access to abortions.

"Even before Alito was confirmed, these things have been in motion," Mansfield said.

She added that the audience could help start a grassroots movement to secure reproductive rights.

"You should be feeling outraged women are considered so unimportant," Mansfield said.

Ronni Murphy, a district manager of American Women's Services, discussed the danger her staff has faced. Since 1997, when her clinic opened in State College, it has been the target of several acts of violence, including a bomb threat and an anthrax scare.

"We're left vulnerable," Murphy said.

Uma Asher (graduate-history) provided a more global perspective on women's rights, concentrating mostly on her home country of India.

Asher spoke about the imbalance between boys and girls in the country. With the preference for baby boys, she said, "millions of girls are never born."

She cited a 2001 census that revealed that there were 933 women to every 1,000 men -- a large disparity, she said.

"India society must recognize women being equal to men," Asher said.

Mary Faulkner, a doctoral candidate, took a political stance.

"[It's] troubling to see Alito as O'Connor's replacement to the Court," she said.

Faulkner reminded the audience that just because a political figure is a Democrat, it does not mean he or she is protecting reproductive rights.

"I urge you all to look at these issues in a more detailed way," she said.

Peg Spear, the director of University Health Services, was the last to speak and created a personal scenario for the audience.

"Try to imagine being a 20-year-old in 1968 who just left home for college," she said. "You find out you're pregnant. There is no such thing as a legal abortion. You don't know where to get advice."

Spear then talked about the danger of an underground network for illegal abortions, which she called "terrifying."

Colleen Dayton (junior-criminal justice and psychology), who identifies herself as an abortion right advocate and against Alito, said she came out to the panel to hear what other people had to say.

"I'm a little concerned about women's rights and abortion rights," Dayton said.

Sarah Rohan (senior-art) said she was glad she came.

"It was really enlightening," she said. "I didn't know how grave the situation was. It was a real eye-opener."