From: scotts@CS.CMU.EDU (Scott Safier)
Newsgroups: talk.abortion
Subject: A letter from CMU
Keywords: From: decay@
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:56:04 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Originator: scotts@MORPHEUS.CIMDS.RI.CMU.EDU

The following is a letter sent out to every first year student
entering Carnegie Mellon University.  It is in response to a student
senate resolution calling for the University to tell students about
PA's parental consent law.  The letter was written by Carnegie
Mellon's Dean of Student Affairs.

Dear First-year Student:

With only a few days remaining before you arrive on campus, I wanted to
write and join the many others who have congratulated you on your
admission to the university and your decision to join us this fall.  We
made a wise choice, you made a wise choice, and I am looking forward to
our coming years together.

Amid all the administrative details of housing and dining and
registration for classes, I wanted to take a few moments of your time to
consider some important aspects of your transition to becoming a member
of the Carnegie Mellon community.  I want to encourage you to consider
some of the exciting challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for you
at the university.  I also want you to think of some of the important
responsibilities that are concomitant with these challenges and
opportunities.

A successful college experience, indeed a successful experience in
almost any setting, revolves around the ability to make sound,
responsible choices.  Your success to date is a tribute to your ability
to make good choices.  You have not made exclusively safe choices,
perhaps some appropriate risk taking along the way, but ultimately good
choices.  In college, the choices become even more extensive and, in
some ways, more important.  Certainly most high school students have
already faced tough choices in such issues as alcohol and drug use,
sexuality, choosing friends and balancing between work and recreation. 
Though I know you have already addressed such issues, they remain
important ones worthy of your ongoing attention.

<paragraph about drugs and alcohol deleted>

I also want to address sexuality and personal decision-making.  This is
an important issue, though one which is perhaps easier to avoid than to
discuss openly.  Issues such as HIV infection, sexually transmitted
diseases, and unwanted pregnancy do receive considerable attention,
though more as matters of public policy than of personal concern  These
are important issues, and I will touch on them here.  Perhaps most
important, though, is your ability to make decisions regarding your own
sexual activity or abstinence in a manner that is consistent with your
physical, emotional and spiritual health.  The university stands
prepared to assist you in any way possible.  While here, you will have
the opportunity to attend workshops on such issues as sexually
transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and sexuality.  Throughout the year
our health services ands counseling center will provide private
confidential support and counseling on any such issues.  Importantly,
the various priests, ministers, and rabbis of the university's
interfaith council are also available to counsel students in a manner
consistent with their personal religious beliefs.  As you are probably
aware, one issue which has received national attention has been
Pennsylvania's law requiring persons under the age of eighteen to
receive parental consent to terminate pregnancy.  We will provide
counseling, medical assistance, pastoral support and legal referral to
any student involved in any way in such a troubling situation.  While
you will be supported at every turn, it is obviously important to set as
your goal the kinds of responsible choices that will keep you and others
safe and healthy during your time here.

<closing about the richness of the university experience deleted>

----

Wouldn't it be nice if places like CSUS gave this kind of attention to
the issue of abortion?

________  __
\      / /  \
 \pink/  \__          -+--+-               Scott Safier    (corwin+@cmu.edu)
  \  /      \  _  __   |  |                Center for Integrated Manufacturing
   \/    \__/ (__/\_)_/|_/|_/                                 Decision Systems
        B0/1 f+ w- g k+ s- m(+) e++             Carnegie Mellon
member, T.S.A.K.C.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a cure for AIDS in the marketplace
before Magic Johnson gets AIDS?"
             Vice President Dan Quayle, 11/13/91 (CNN)
Newsgroups: talk.abortion