This is what I thought you originally meant, which is why I did not respond on The DI when you posted. I just did not want you or your readers to think that that was what I think or was trying to communicate.

I pointed out your comment simply as a springboard to talk about the fact that it is uncommon for pregnant women on campus to carry to term, and to point to the other commenters as an example of why that is. Again, I’m sorry if I didn’t express that well.

As clearly stated in my original post:

“It is the individual’s choice as to what decision to make, and I absolutely respect the choice that she made.

However, I question why she has received the DI’s attention. I have rarely seen the DI give space to personal stories of struggle and triumph. While common in other newspapers and television news shows, the DI - as far as I have seen for the last several years - does not commonly do this [. . .]

Again, I am questioning the unique media attention which her story has received, not her decisions or the validity of the sacrifices which she has made.”

I was making an argument about the representation of this individual and her story, which I feel was highly dramatic and meant to herald pro-life politics. You certainly have the right to respond to my post, but I also have the right to tell you that I think you misrepresented my point by addressing one sentence out of context.

I, too, was appalled by the reactions in the comments - as I most often am. However, what I seek to do is critically engage with the media produced by The DI and attempt to hold posters accountable for their arguments and claims. (There is a clear example of this in my second post on this thread where I confront “Don H.,” an all too common voice of racism, sexism, classism, and general hatred on The DI Online.) For you - and other commenters here - to group me with voices of intolerance is as insulting as it is inaccurate.

For anyone who is interested, the full list of comments is available at http://www.dailyillini.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleComments &ustory_id=0c5ca1de-48e2-4ae3-bcdd-10d30edd833d.

For anyone interested in engaging the topic of online behavior further, please attend the free UIUC CDMS Race, Diversity, and Campus Climate Conference on April 10, 2008 at the Union. I will be co-presenting a piece about cyberbullying and my experiences on The DI.

Christina: I think that’s part of it, yes. There’s also a whopping great dose of sexism, classism, and racism in those comments.

Sarah: I agree, it was great to see the article!

On the other hand, I was delighted to read the article itself. With any luck, it will raise awareness of other options and let pregnant/parenting students know they aren’t alone.

As for ‘Tyrone the Rapist,’ his tag says it all. He is anti-life scum whose thinks it’s his job to pull people down and degrade them. He needs to lose his penis and have it stuffed in his mouth. Or if we are a little too civilized for that, then a padded cell will have to do.
In any event, he has no business stating who does and does not belong in college. His lust for power makes him pretend he does.
Isn’t it interesting that the people who least deserve power over others are the ones most desperate to have it.