Venus View

VOX-UT Knoxville raises voice against GAP

Pro-choice students defend reproductive freedom

by Beth Maples-Bays

KNOXVILLE – Recent VOX action on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville shouted out their defense of women’s right to physical integrity and against the misleading and shocking pictures displayed with UT’s approval.

In speaking of the October 25th action, Vox supporter Andrew Ciscel observes, “The main action today was very successful with 30-40 pro-choice activists holding signs and flyers, lining up as a blockade to the highly inappropriate display that GAP imposed on UT campus,” states Andres Ciscel, VOX supporter. “It was a very peaceful protest of their
display with lots of support from passing students and staff.”



GAP (Genocide Awareness Project) goes from campus to campus with their large detailed photographic displays of bloody fetal remains comparing abortion to Jewish Holocaust victims, African-American lynchings, and the genocide visited upon Native Americans by the United States government.

“In my opinion, if this sector of the anti-choice movement really wants to have intelligent conversation, they can come out and demonstrate without photos of bloody fetuses next to images from real human genocides,” asserts Ciscel.

Periodically throughout the two-day display, members of VOX were individually handing out fliers next to the GAP display. Several English classes, studying debate, took flyers from both sides and sometimes engaged the anti-choice participants.

What is Vox®? Vox is the Latin word for "voice" and Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood is a nationwide program to energize and mobilize the new generation of pro-choice Americans. Vox aims to educate and inspire a new generation of young adults to advocate reproductive freedom.
The newly organized Vox is working quickly on UT-Knoxville campus to work on behalf of women’s reproductive freedom. In this case, they protest the misuse of the word “genocide” and other attempts to shock the public and slant the public conversation in their favor.

In Knoxville, women may seek a full array of reproductive health services at the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health. The Center’s director, Corrine Rovetti, RN, MSA, is a graduate of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s College of Nursing and has been an outspoken support of women’s reproductive freedom.

From their Web site:

“Medical care at the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health is supervised by Morris D. Campbell, M.D. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and also a Fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He lives in Knoxville and has privileges at local hospitals.

Routine gynecological and family planning care is provided by Corinne Rovetti, RNC / MSN. She is a certified family nurse practitioner specializing in women's health care. Her perspective is to empower women to empower themselves.”

Contact information for Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health. Location: 1547 West Clinch Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916. Phone: (local) 865-637-3861 or (toll-free) 800-325-5357. Fax: 865-637-0222. Email: krepro@aol.com. Visit their Web site at www.kcrh.com.


“PPMET believes that the self-determined pursuit of sexual health is important for everyone's well-being and quality of life. We are a recognized and respected leader in providing reproductive, sexual and complementary healthcare and comprehensive sexuality education to women, men and teens regardless of race, age, income status, religion or sexual orientation.” – PPMET Web site

Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee has two offices: Nashville and Knoxville. They offer comprehensive reproductive health care in Nashville including both medical and surgical first trimester abortion services. You can reach the Nashville office at 615-321-7216. The Knoxville office does not offer abortion services. You can receive other reproductive health services including birth control and gynecological care. You can reach the Knoxville office at 865-694-7155. Or simply call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN (7526.) The phone will ring in the clinic nearest you. Visit their Web site at www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/tennessee..

For further information about VOX on UT-K campus, email Stacia at utvox@hotmail.com.

Beth can be reached at Beth@gyrlgroove.com.