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Current Issue:

Hearts of Gold

Abstract:
Friday morning, Sam Houston students found writing on the walls that they could not miss.

On the walls, floor, and even the stairs were anti-abortion messages. The messages read to the effect of "pro-life", "Abortion stops a beating heart", and "Bearkats for life" as an anti-abortion group posted messages on campus....

  • Displaying 1 - 33 of 33

Sylvia

posted 11/17/09 @ 2:43 AM CST

As the Bearkats for Life president I would just like to inform everyone Bearkats for life didn't violate any school policies.Bearkats for Life did have permission from director of the LSC Danny Mcdaniel to chalk in the specific area we chalked in. As for the no returned phone calls. Please check your answering machine because I called and left a message at 6:05 5 minutes after I got a phone call saying I needed to call the Houstonian. Lets please get all the facts straight. Vilification is an issue with this article, and it's a shame you all didn't get the story/facts straight.
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James Pinedo

posted 11/17/09 @ 5:21 AM CST

Wow, I am surprised at the Houstonian.

I'm not surprised that you are baised against this group, just surprised that you are foolish enough to make it so obvious.

If you want to try to be impartial, I challenge you to get out of Dan Rather and do a man on the street in front of ABIV or the Music building. Let's see what the students think of this...
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Kristin B

posted 11/17/09 @ 8:25 AM CST

As an alumni of SHSU, I think it is incredibly sad that you would make your bias so well known. Use of the word "overzealous" does not match the situation. Hearts were chalked. How is that overzealous? During my four years at SHSU I saw several fraternities and sororities chalk their letters on the sidewalk- but NEVER did THAT get attention. And as far as someone being offended? That is ridiculous & seems to just have been thrown in the article as an extra sentence. SO WHAT. People that get offended when opinions expressed are not their own are close minded. SHSU students should be PROUD that they attend such a diverse campus. And SHAME on the Houstonian for not getting their facts straight. Permission WAS given. Someone dropped the ball on this article, as the reporting was VERY VERY poor.
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Suzanna

posted 11/17/09 @ 8:38 AM CST

If our message on the LSC wall was offending, well your article Mr. Butchko offended our group.
Those hearts were never a stab at anyone. Our chalking was not against any school policies. We are a pro-life group trying to get our message and name out. Any publicity is good for us. You should have contacted a member of the group to get the facts straight sir.
Have a nice day!
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Emily

posted 11/17/09 @ 8:43 AM CST

It is obvious that in the opinion of the Houstonian's sports editor this act was inappropriate. Is this an opinion piece?
It seems to me that before publishing something on an issue that is often controversial, the Houstonian would have done a little more research and fact-checking.
for example, why not check with someone from student activities to find out if this particular incident was in fact a violation of school policy?
What is printed here is an interpretation of the student activities operation manual by someone with no authority on the matter.
To validate this article, perhaps the Houstonian would consider doing a follow up piece that draws its conclusions from more appropriate sources.
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Andie

posted 11/17/09 @ 8:57 AM CST

I thought the message was beautiful and it got a lot of students attention (which I think was the point).
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Sylvia Correa de Mc

posted 11/17/09 @ 9:02 AM CST

No wonder, why we cannot believe what the media writes or says now days, if you cannot even verified your facts. Let's go ahead and pull out something our sleeves. That's what this article is all about. There is absolutely nothing wrong to be in disagreement with the issues but at least do the homework. All the negativism on this article is just overwhelming; it seems that's what we are surrounded by now days, thanks to poor journalism. When a group of kids decides to fight for something they believe, the least you can do is show respect, get your facts and learn to be impartial towards the subject.
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Ross Asher

posted 11/17/09 @ 9:05 AM CST

What irony on behalf of the Houstonian.
"I was offended," said one student who requested to remain anonymous.
It is impossible to do or say anything without offending someone nowadays. The Houstonian points out the offense to one person, but fails to mention the offense to millions of murdered babies.
What journalistic integrity and impartiality.
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Whitney

posted 11/17/09 @ 9:49 AM CST

I think Bearkats for Life did a good thing for the campus! We are suppose to stand up for things and expecially for God, and I think they did not mean any harm or to affend anyone. Everyone just needs to communicate better, and we are willing to follow the rules too. They didn't do it to make a fight about it, but to fight for it! anyways, everyone has their opinions they should be respected. Thank you for yours Houstonian.
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disruptive?

posted 11/17/09 @ 9:58 AM CST

I don't really understand how you can consider that disruptive to the academic environment. They were arguing a point, isn't that what academia is about, differing views coming together to argue a point?
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Glendy

posted 11/17/09 @ 10:10 AM CST

I am so sorry that hearts have offended someone but thats just it they were just hearts we weren't protesting or anything of that sort, we were just voicing our opinion and raising awarness. As for breaking school rules or policies, its not breaking rules when we were given permission to do the chalking. In the future, please put in a little research before you publish anything.
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Demelva Robins

posted 11/17/09 @ 1:30 PM CST

It is to my understanding that The Houstonian is the voice of the students. If the students were indeed offended well then the story is done well.

What seems to have happened is the story in generally against your group so you throw up your arms in protest.

He has a quote from a dean saying it's against school policy, your call was not returned in time it looks like the facts are straight.
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Kayla

posted 11/17/09 @ 2:13 PM CST

While the article was "against" the bearkats for life movement, the problem is not in there opposition, it is in the lack of information. Anyone can put in a quote from anyone and call it a direct source. However, one must always question the validity of that statement. And seeing as it appears that the facts happen to be on the side of the bearkats for life, this would then be considered vilification, which we all know is a crime. It seems if one particular paper is to represent a University and a body of students, shouldn't the editor be a bit more involved in the articles composed for the paper? This article, in total, puts Sam Houston State in a very compromising position wouldn't you say? I would be a bit more cautious about hiring unqualified reporters in the future.
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mary

posted 11/17/09 @ 3:18 PM CST

As a member of bearkats for life, and one of the students who helped chalk hearts on that Thursday night, i cant help but say I'm "offended" that this article was printed. Yes the Houstonian is entitled to their opinion, but this is more of a bash than an opinion on the matter (and why is the sports editor writing this, or was the opinion editor sick.) The group was given permission, this just goes to show that some writers on the staff are lazy and will do anything for the story. This article makes the bearkats for life group sound like a violent protesting group, when all we did was chalk simple hearts on the wall for people to be aware of the matter of abortion.
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Jaime

posted 11/17/09 @ 3:30 PM CST

Writing on walls (albeit erasable chalk) in a building of an academic institution seems like inappropriate behavior for adults.

I hope that Bearkats for Life offered to clean up the writings of expression that were left. According to a statement in the article, "The writing will more than likely be washed off by maintenance according to Dean John Yarabeck."
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mary

posted 11/17/09 @ 4:01 PM CST

Originally posted by

Jaime

 Writing on walls (albeit erasable chalk) in a building of an academic institution seems like inappropriate behavior for adults.

I hope that Bearkats for Life offered to clean up the writings of expression that were left. According to a statement in the article, "The writing will more than likely be washed off by maintenance according to Dean John Yarabeck."


when we asked for permission to do this event, we were given a week to display it and then we have to wash it off by Thursday, its Tuesday. :)

and your right, standing up for what you belive in is "childish" our bad.
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Demelva Robins

posted 11/17/09 @ 4:39 PM CST

So now we have gone from not liking the story to saying that the writer has made up quotes? Wow, classy move by the Bearkats for Life.

As a Sam Houston student I am offended that you people would get so extreme. Now you are accusing a journalism major of making up quotes and making up a story when he has quotes and proof from a Dean of Students.

You people are a bit pathetic.
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Kristin

posted 11/17/09 @ 6:07 PM CST

Originally posted by

Demelva Robins

 So now we have gone from not liking the story to saying that the writer has made up quotes? Wow, classy move by the Bearkats for Life.

As a Sam Houston student I am offended that you people would get so extreme. Now you are accusing a journalism major of making up quotes and making up a story when he has quotes and proof from a Dean of Students.

You people are a bit pathetic.


Wow... good diction. Honestly, how is "chalking hearts" extreme? If chalking colored hearts is extreme- what would you say about protestors standing in front of abortion clinics (given they stand within the required feet)? Lunatics?

Standing up for what you believe in is "pathetic"? Again, great diction.

"We" were not accusing someone of making up quotes. While one person stated that, though not directly, we "people" did not. Watch your wording ;) I am not saying anyone made up facts. What I am saying is that as a reporter you should use MULTIPLE sources and be careful before you ASSUME someone is breaking school policy because of ONE source. As a Sam Houston student such as yourself, you should know that one source is NOT acceptable to a college professor.

Stay classy ;)
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Greissy

posted 11/17/09 @ 4:47 PM CST

We were given persmission to chalk. The school even told us the specific location. It makes me sad that you would post something based on your biased opinion without checking the facts first.
And how many people really complained about it? How many literally went up to the school and said that the chalk offended them?
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mary

posted 11/17/09 @ 4:50 PM CST

im not sure that anyone said that the houstonian had made up quotes, i know for a fact that the houstonian interviewed the dean of students, but what we are saying is that even though he might be the dean of students, doesnt mean he knows everything that happens. Bearkats for life asked permission to do the chalking from someone who works at the LSC we origanlly wanted to chalk the whole campus, but it was not approved so the only place where we could chalk was the underground stairs at the LSC (which is what we did).

did the Houstonian make up quotes, no.
but did the houstonian get their facts straight, no
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Suzanna

posted 11/17/09 @ 6:01 PM CST

We were just letting people be aware of what is going on, whether you may be Pro-Life or not. Like you said, freedom of speech, well this is our group's freedom of speech. Yes we were told to wash it off. We will. Hearts on a sidewalk don't break bones. Sure the chalk is bright and may hurt your precious eyes, which you should be lucky you have since you were not a victim of abortion, which is why the hearts are there. They represent all the lives lost to abortion. As a member of Bearkats for life and a Mass Communications major, I think the story should have both sides to it. Sure Mr. Lotis you can have your opinion, but please respect the message we were trying to convey. Thanks!
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H.S. Teacher

posted 11/17/09 @ 7:29 PM CST

I graduated from Sam in 1985. This article seemed one sided. Sad......
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H.S. Teacher

posted 11/17/09 @ 7:33 PM CST

This was written by a college student? Sad.....
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Demelva Robins

posted 11/17/09 @ 7:41 PM CST

Originally posted by

H.S. Teacher

 This was written by a college student? Sad.....


I think sad is someone who graduated two decades ago still coming back to the web site.

Your right though. Only one person said he made up quotes but the reporter does have quotes from students saying they didn't like this.

Of course talking to people who are for a cause will put on their blinders and ignore the truth.

I guess it's a fact that the story doesn't have all the facts, but the Dean of Students said it was wrong to write on the walls. And from what I heard at Dan Rather, (I am a public relations major) Yarabeck told the Anti-Abortion group something else.

So you guys complain on here instead of taking it up with him. By the way your classy president Sylvia was very classy when she posted that all students should post on here because "All press isn't bad press".

Now, you stay classy!
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Adri

posted 11/18/09 @ 7:37 AM CST

Originally posted by

H.S. Teacher

 This was written by a college student? Sad.....

Sad that you are the only one against quite a few Bearkats for Life trying to defend this article. This and other actions just prove how strongly we believe in this issue and how far were willing to go to make sure our message is heard. I don't know why it's sad to visit your school's news paper, alumnae or not. Why would you say that? Haha.

What truth are we ignoring?? If anyone is ignoring the truth it's those ignoring the issue of abortion. We have not put our blinders on, we're just trying to remove those of the people who have them on.
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Andrew K

posted 11/18/09 @ 9:10 PM CST

Originally posted by

H.S. Teacher

 This was written by a college student? Sad.....

I think sad is someone who graduated two decades ago still coming back to the web site.

Your right though. Only one person said he made up quotes but the reporter does have quotes from students saying they didn't like this.

Of course talking to people who are for a cause will put on their blinders and ignore the truth.

I guess it's a fact that the story doesn't have all the facts, but the Dean of Students said it was wrong to write on the walls. And from what I heard at Dan Rather, (I am a public relations major) Yarabeck told the Anti-Abortion group something else.

So you guys complain on here instead of taking it up with him. By the way your classy president Sylvia was very classy when she posted that all students should post on here because "All press isn't bad press".

Now, you stay classy!


I find it odd that you closed your message with "stay classy." You're rude and you have no class. Nothing is wrong with alumni taking interest in the University they invested their time and money in. Concerned alumni are an important facet to a universities prestige and longevity. This is one reason universities build what is called an "Alumni Center." I really wish people would think things through before writing because you are so wrong on so many levels that it makes me sad for you. I invite you to take your aforementioned blinders off and realize that the lives of millions of Americans have died, not because of choice, but because of murder.
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Andrew K

posted 11/17/09 @ 10:06 PM CST

Pro-Life issues are definitely controversial enough without having to spice it up with biased language. I'm surprised the writer failed to mention that among a few displeased students someone participated in minor vandalism to the Pro-Life message. However, seeing the clearly biased undertones in this article it is no surprise that the facts were not entirely brought forward. I commend Sylvia for her tact and I am glad that students don't try to slink away from important controversial subjects such as this.
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Lisa

posted 11/17/09 @ 10:11 PM CST

It is a SHAME that the Houstonian decided to discredit Bearkats for Life. It is quite evident that this newspaper did not do credible research in finding the absolute "truth"! This newspaper is supposed to be professional and non-bias but this clearly demonstrates otherwise. This newspaper has lost a valuable reader because of this bigotry.
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Jennifer

posted 11/18/09 @ 12:07 AM CST

I find the cute little chalked hearts far more endearing that the posters of aborted fetuses that anti-abortionist like to parade outside clinics. Bravo to Bearkats for Life for spreading their message and not making me want to upchuck my gingerbread latte on the way to class!

P.S. Anti-abortion is a negative and bias term. I'm not a journalist, so it's okay if I use it. The author of this article has no business using it. Geeze, you're like Fox News for the left. Change you anonymous source to "Some people say ...." and you will have it down pat.
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mary

posted 11/19/09 @ 3:12 AM CST

Originally posted by

Jennifer

 I find the cute little chalked hearts far more endearing that the posters of aborted fetuses that anti-abortionist like to parade outside clinics. Bravo to Bearkats for Life for spreading their message and not making me want to upchuck my gingerbread latte on the way to class!

P.S. Anti-abortion is a negative and bias term. I'm not a journalist, so it's okay if I use it. The author of this article has no business using it. Geeze, you're like Fox News for the left. Change you anonymous source to "Some people say ...." and you will have it down pat.


nicely said.

even if someone is pro-choice i dont see how this offends them.
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Thomas

posted 11/19/09 @ 8:43 AM CST

It is ANTI Abortion, not PRO-Life. If the group was really pro-life they would be protesting at the prison everytime they lethally inject someone. Since there are no abortions performed in this town at all it would make more sense for the PROLIFE movement to be combatting the actual deaths in their area instead of wasting time with little chalk hearts and patting themselves on the back.

The courts decided that abortion should be legal for numerous reasons. In last 40+ years the ANTI abortion movement has has every opportunity to convince the people that the courts were wrong, and guess what? WE haven't. Some of us like the idea that there is a safe and legal way to terminate unwanted pregnancies without having to flee to Mexico to get it done.

Welcome to Democracy, Antiabortionists are not out to save lives, they are out to control them. Any deviation from their strictly adhered to beliefs threatens their collective fable.

Oh and PS - Dont protest the Planned Parenthood clinic, they dont do abortions there. In fact they were instrumental in assuring that my son was taken care of from the moment that we found my wife was pregnant. They provided prenatal vitamins to my wife, instructions on how to care for herself while pregnant, and checkups throughout the pregnancy.

You can stop pretending that this isnt a religious issue anymore Antiabortionists, we are on to you, your hypocrisy has reached critical mass.
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Sylvia

posted 11/19/09 @ 10:40 AM CST

Originally posted by

Thomas

 It is ANTI Abortion, not PRO-Life. If the group was really pro-life they would be protesting at the prison everytime they lethally inject someone. Since there are no abortions performed in this town at all it would make more sense for the PROLIFE movement to be combatting the actual deaths in their area instead of wasting time with little chalk hearts and patting themselves on the back.

The courts decided that abortion should be legal for numerous reasons. In last 40+ years the ANTI abortion movement has has every opportunity to convince the people that the courts were wrong, and guess what? WE haven't. Some of us like the idea that there is a safe and legal way to terminate unwanted pregnancies without having to flee to Mexico to get it done.

Welcome to Democracy, Antiabortionists are not out to save lives, they are out to control them. Any deviation from their strictly adhered to beliefs threatens their collective fable.

Oh and PS - Dont protest the Planned Parenthood clinic, they dont do abortions there. In fact they were instrumental in assuring that my son was taken care of from the moment that we found my wife was pregnant. They provided prenatal vitamins to my wife, instructions on how to care for herself while pregnant, and checkups throughout the pregnancy.

You can stop pretending that this isnt a religious issue anymore Antiabortionists, we are on to you, your hypocrisy has reached critical mass.




I'm sorry you have been misinformed. We are a pro life group that has just started. And we will be there for the death row cases, and we will be protesting and praying for the prisoners when they are put to death. We are just starting. But we are a pro life group that believes in natural death from the womb to the tomb. So I just wanted to let you know that we will be there. And as for Planned Parenthood, I'm glad they helped your wife out. You all are very lucky, and I'm sure your son is adorable. Thank you for choosing life!
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Ross Asher

posted 11/19/09 @ 10:52 AM CST

Originally posted by

Thomas

Welcome to Democracy, Antiabortionists are not out to save lives, they are out to control them. Any deviation from their strictly adhered to beliefs threatens their collective fable.

Oh and PS - Dont protest the Planned Parenthood clinic, they dont do abortions there. In fact they were instrumental in assuring that my son was taken care of from the moment that we found my wife was pregnant. They provided prenatal vitamins to my wife, instructions on how to care for herself while pregnant, and checkups throughout the pregnancy.

You can stop pretending that this isnt a religious issue anymore Antiabortionists, we are on to you, your hypocrisy has reached critical mass.


Let's see, Anti abortionists are out to control lives, but Pro abortionists are not? Don't make me laugh. The ultimate control over the life of another person is the taking of that person's life. And it is the Pro abortionists who are in favor of that. Anti abortionists believe in granting life and freedom to live, not in taking innocent lives and thereby controlling them.
Now speaking of hypocrisy, why don't you examine your own?
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