Shein '04 set to argue for abortion rights

When Erica Shein '04 received her absentee ballot this year, she noticed that the meanings of various ballot initiatives were clouded in a haze of confusing — yet innocuous — political jargon. These were the types of proposals, she felt, that would leave voters likely to cast a confused "yes" vote when they stepped into voting booths in November.

For this reason, Shein will go before the New Jersey assembly this morning to testify against an initiative that may appear on state ballots in November 2001 — an initiative that Shein believes sounds innocuous, but is in fact potentially disastrous for the teenage female population of New Jersey.

The initiative — which would amend New Jersey's constitution to require parental notification for all medical operations performed on minors, including abortions — is opposed by pro-choice activists throughout the state.

"Since it is a public hearing, they wanted as many people as possible to come from as many points of view as possible," Shein said. "They are looking for teenagers, political pundits, doctors and parents to present opinions. I will be speaking about how minors should not have their rights removed simply because they are not yet 18."

Shein, who speaks in a confident and steady tone, was selected by Susan Wilson — the executive director of the Network for Family Life Education at Rutgers University, where Shein worked this summer.

"I'm definitely nervous. I don't know the whole format or who will be there," said Shein, whose overall demeanor suggests that — nerves aside — she will be poised during tomorrow's hearing. "I learned a lot at my job this summer about these issues, but I never really did anything active."

Nevertheless, she said she is excited about the opportunity. "It's exciting to be given my five minutes along with all these experts," Shein said.

The Edison native said she plans to approach the issue from a minor's point of view. "Minors, specifically teenagers, need to be given independence and responsibility," Shein said. "The fact is that the law would create covert and more dangerous situations for teens."

Among other arguments against the initiative, Shein will cite the danger of unprofessional abortion treatments. "I am sure no one in here wishes to see the return of coat hangers and back alleys — none of the young people whose rights are now up for debate have had to live through that, and I am determined to see it stay that way," she wrote in her prepared statement.

The parental notification amendment — introduced Sept. 21 by Assembly Speaker Jack Collins (R-Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester) and Assemblyman John Rooney (R-Bergen) — would require doctors to inform minors' parents of all medical operations.

The debate is only the latest round in more than two years of dispute about parental notification in New Jersey. The 1999 Parental Notification for Abortion Act — a law requiring physicians to wait 48 hours after securing parental notification before performing abortions — was struck down by the New Jersey Supreme Court in August.

The court cited the unconstitutionality of the act under the equal protection principles set forth in the state constitution.

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Political groups including Right-to-Life and the League of American Families have retaliated by attempting to place the current initiative on the ballot for November 2001. The assembly must approve the initiative before it can be placed on the ballot.

Shein said she hopes her words tomorrow will help assemblymen consider the effects of their policy-making on teenagers. "It's one thing to sit behind your desk and make policy, but it's another to truly know how your policy will affect people," Shein said. "So often they don't know how it is going to be."

Shein said she is excited about expressing the opinion of a group of people who were not born when Roe v. Wade was handed down.

"Basically, we need to suppress this bill in the assembly, because if it makes it to the ballot in November of 2001, it will be very difficult to defeat," Shein said. "The language of the bill is so abstruse that I think many people will view it as beneficial for teens."