CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, the headline of Monday's pg. 3 story "UNC pro-choice group is victim to vandalism" called Carolina Students for Life a pro-choice group. The group is anti-abortion.
Due to a reporting error in the same story, the note left on Carolina Students for Life President Ashley Tyndall's car when her tires were slashed Sept. 15 did not read, "Stay out of my uterus, asshole!" That note was left on a previous occasion. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the errors.
As president of Carolina Students for Life, Ashley Tyndall said vocal and flagrant opposition comes with the territory of leading the only group on campus that is exclusively pro-life.
Still, when Tyndall returned to her apartment the night of Sept. 15, after speaking at a pro-life conference in Tennessee, she said she was surprised to find the tires on her car slashed and pro-life magnets replaced with profane notes, one of which said "Stay out of my uterus, asshole!"
"It feels like acts of hatred, which you expect to some extent but not this level," she said. "The note on my car was typed, so I guess that level of premeditation was frightening."
As an officer of the organization for four years, Tyndall said she is accustomed to notes taped to her car, as well as receiving bitter e-mails from those opposed to the pro-life standpoint.
"It's really disappointing because it shows an undercurrent of intolerance toward the group, especially when you're supposed to be in this intellectual university community and you're facing that sort of immature opposition," she said.
Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said that vandalism is a common occurrence on campus and that the majority of vandalism acts are hit-and-run.
"We rely on the campus community to partner with us in reporting things like this," he said. "Even if you aren't in danger yourself but you see something that doesn't sit well with you, the next student walking by may wish you would have reported it."
And Tyndall said the vandalism to her car this month was not an isolated occurrence.
She said someone broke into the Carolina Students for Life's storage unit during the summer, and when leaders opened the door at the beginning of the school year, hateful notes and expired condoms covered the group's belongings.
"I was just bemused because we don't have anything against condoms," Tyndall said. "That's not our focus at all."
With the slogan "Pro-Woman, Pro-Child, Pro-Life," Carolina Students for Life does not have any religious or political affiliations.
The group is both education- and outreach-oriented, incorporating speakers and events for students, as well as offering a support system for women in the community.
Maureen Stutzman, co-chairwoman of Choice USA at UNC, said she feels bad that pro-choice advocates resorted to vandalism to make their voices heard.
Stutzman said Choice USA, which supports the right to abortion, has had few problems with hate mail and vandalism.
Although Choice USA and Carolina Students for Life clash about the abortion issue, Stutzman said no one in Choice USA would go as far as to hurt people or their property because of it.
"When people feel as passionately as they do about a subject like this, it's likely that there will be conflict between the two groups," Stutzman said.
"But this conflict is no different than any other groups that have opposing views. … We're not an organization focused on conflict."
With pro-life speakers and events planned throughout the year, Carolina Students for Life leaders said they are hoping for healthy debates.
Dr. Anthony Levatino, who has performed abortions in the past, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Greenlaw 101 about his experiences with abortion and his switch to a pro-life stance.
Tyndall said students who attend should keep an open mind.
"We're hoping people will come hear our position instead of completely turning their backs to it or responding with such violent intolerance."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
