To the editor:

In her letter of Jan. 31, Ms. Donna Roush makes what appears to be a compelling argument for teaching abstinence as a means of reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Fair enough, so far. However, I fear that many who promote this agenda also believe that abstinence is the only answer and that contraception is wrong may encourage sexual activity and, when it fails, abortion. Ms. Roush makes clear she believes this to be true and criticizes Rep. Paul Davis for calling for the increased availability of contraceptives.

I offer a personal experience in rebuttal. In the early ’90s my family lived in Santa Fe, N.M. Santa Fe is a predominately Catholic/Hispanic community, and abstinence is strenuously preached in the homes and churches. Nonetheless, when my daughter entered Santa Fe High School she was shocked to learn that the school, with a student body of approximately 1,900, had 53 student pregnancies the previous year. In fact, the school had been forced to open a day care center! Appalled, my daughter joined with several other students in a campaign to ask the school board to authorize the Student Health Center to distribute contraceptives.

Despite virulent opposition from the conservative community, her student group prevailed, and in-school access to birth control was provided. The following year there were 13 pregnancies at Santa Fe High School. I rest my case.

My daughter’s experience in political activism encouraged her to learn more about the political and democratic process. She is now a third-year doctoral student in political science at KU.

Doug Burger,

Lawrence