NCAA Jumps through Hoops to Protect Life

Tony Perkins, FRC: In the nine months since ESPN blew the whistle on pro-abortion policies in the NCAA, the Division I Management Council has been forced to do some soul-searching. Last May, in its "Outside the Lines" report, ESPN interviewed seven athletes from Clemson University who became pregnant during their team's season. The pressure from the school was so intense that all seven had abortions simply to keep their sports scholarships intact. Athletic director Terry Don Phillips said the policy was not meant to encourage abortions but rather responsible sexual choices. Unfortunately, the problem is not an isolated one. At the University of Memphis, the girls were asked to sign a statement acknowledging that if they ever became pregnant, they would forfeit their funding. This month, the NCAA voted to protect students from making the choice between their children and their scholarships. By a 46-5 vote, the Council enacted a new rule, scheduled to go into effect on August 1, which treats pregnancy the same as it treats a "temporary disability"-- by allowing recovery time that does not endanger a student's eligibility. Thanks to this "maternity leave," fewer athletes will be coerced into choosing abortion. While we are grateful that there is a policy in place that promotes life, schools should turn their attention to the underlying problem, which is sexual activity. If we truly want to encourage healthy lifestyles on campus, it's time to get the ball rolling on programs that coach students to moral victory by saying no to sex outside of marriage. See also: NCAA Moves Toward Protecting Pregnant Athletes From Needing Abortions