In 1973, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case was passed allowing a woman the right to legally have an abortion until the point in which a fetus would be able to survive outside the womb.

According to Dr. Carolyn Mills, obstetrician gynecologist with Advocate Medical Group in Geneva, in the days before abortions were legal, women would attend clinics that possibly weren’t certified to get an abortion, so complications, such as infections, could arise.

Roughly 20 years ago, Glenbrook North students had varying opinions, whether they were pro-life or pro-choice. One alumna believed that everyone deserves a chance at life, similar to current senior Olivia Herbst. On the other hand, senior Campbell Sharpe said she believes that a woman should have the right over her own body, similar to another alumna.

Despite the fact that students nearly 20 years apart share similar views on the topic of abortion, there have been changes in legislation. States such as Ohio, Alabama and Missouri have passed laws that illegalize abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected by a physician. The issue with this law, according to attorney Heather Ross, is that often a heartbeat can be detected before a woman knows she is pregnant.

“So basically [the fetal heatbeat law] is pretty much outlawing the ability to have an abortion,” Ross said.

According to Mills, “In this day and age women are going to seek [abortion] as an option for themselves, and if they can’t do it legally, they’re gonna do it illegally, and [it] possibly won’t be safe for them.”

Your Voices:

“I believe that the government has no authority to establish laws that make it so that [women] have restrictions over [their] own body.” Sophia Marasco, junior

“I think that a woman should have the right over her own body. Everyone should have a right over their own body.” Campbell Sharpe, senior

“From the moment of conception… [the embryo] has its own set of unique DNA, so it is a unique organism and it is alive and it obviously is human.” Olivia Herbst, senior

“As soon as the embryo is made, then it’s a child. … It deserves the right to be alive and be born.” Zander Johnson, senior