It’s no secret that America has had a troubled and uncomfortable relationship with abortion.
On May 2nd, news broke of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. If the decision is passed, 32 states could end legal access to abortion, which many view as a tragically regressive step. Here’s what some UNIS students had to say about where they stand:

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Bella Nadel (Class of 2025)

When I found out about the news, I was heartbroken. It made me feel so powerless and almost in denial at how this could be possible. I hope we’re able to stop this, whether it’s by raising awareness or going to protests.

I’ve also seen a few videos of men on TikTok admitting that they only started “caring” about Roe v. Wade after realizing that hookup culture would be completely out of the question. I hate that people only start acknowledging situations when it directly affects them. This is why we as a population can’t get much done.

Andrei Khazatsky (Class of 2022)

What really bothers me is how the conservative perspective on abortion is logically flawed. Conservatives in the US are against social spending. Taking away a woman’s right to abortion, and federal funding for abortion programs, will inevitably result in higher rates of poverty, crime, and all the associated social spending costs.

Obviously, the Christian conservatives in the Republican Party are most to blame, but I believe that Democrats are also to blame. The Democrats in Congress didn’t codify Roe v. Wade so that they could use the fear of it being revoked as a political tool.

Now that the Supreme Court could cause social regression, their role is being criticized. The question is: why can these unelected officials make such big decisions?

Ma-Sadio Faye (Class of 2023)

I believe the ban will disproportionately affect Black people and other people of color. In the US, people of color are more likely to be economically disadvantaged. Black people are also a significant population in the states that will likely ban abortions. Now, they’re going to have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to get out of state simply to have an abortion. Additionally, I feel it’s super important to highlight the consequences of this ban on Black women, who are 3 times more likely to die during childbirth.

Felipe Tavares (Class of 2022)

I read an article where the author criticized Samuel Alito’s argument that because abortion was not specifically discussed in the Constitution, it wasn’t a “right.” This terrible, circular logic that women shouldn’t have a right to abortion today because they weren’t granted this right before would justify the continuation of slavery and segregation. It just reminds me of how decisions that shouldn’t be political have been made so in all the parts of the American government.

I think that as young people, we should let it be known that we are against this; we should do what we can in our communities. I know it’s hard, and it may feel like in New York it doesn’t matter, but it’s an issue even here.

Estela Santos Torres (Class of 2023)

Honestly, I find it shameful that this case is still being questioned and given so much importance when there are truly pressing issues going on in the world right now. I’m from Spain, and haven’t been that exposed to measures limiting abortion rights there, since it is legal. Conservative governments in the past have tried to cut down some abortion rights, but I think that protests and opposition from other parties have done a lot to avoid them going further. Women are still very vigilant about their rights, and I think there’s still the fear that they could be taken away when a new party comes into power.

Elea Demetriou (Class of 2024)

If I’m going to be completely honest, I wasn’t really surprised by the news. I was horrified and scared, but it’s what I expect from this government. I’m not American, but I’ve lived here long enough to know what the government and rhetoric are like in this country.

Bianca Niyonzima (Class of 2023)

I was of course shocked by the news; I never thought Roe v. Wade would be overturned in my lifetime. A lot of women are going to be put in physical danger because they may have to resort to unsafe methods of abortion. Another more overlooked issue may be that many more women will be beaten or even killed by their partners if they become pregnant and have to keep the baby. (Writer’s note: unplanned pregnancy and the consequent financial burden is a common trigger for abusive partners). In my opinion, getting out and voting isn’t enough at this point. It would require monumental, systemic change.

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The leaked draft opinion has shown us just how precarious our individual rights and liberties are. If you’re looking to get involved, but aren’t sure how, here are some ideas.