Seton Hall bars award event for Gov. Whitman

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 4, 1998 by Teresa Malcolm

Seton Hall University officials ordered that a student-sponsored award event honoring New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman be moved to an off-campus site because of Whitman's support of legalized abortion.

Whitman was to be presented with the sixth annual Sandra Day O'Connor Medal of Honor by three student organizations from the law school. The event was scheduled for the law school's auditorium Nov. 16, but after dozens of invitations had been sent out, university officials told the group to move the event to the nearby Newark Club. The university is located in South Orange, N.J.

"Seton Hall has a clearly stated policy that no public recognition is given to those espousing positions contrary to our Catholic mission," Msgr. Robert Sheeran, president of the university, said in a statement. "This includes publicly supporting pro-choice views."

Leaders from the student groups, who said that they had sought and obtained approval from law school administration officials before inviting Whitman, raised questions about whether the university's actions were limiting free speech on campus. The students also noted that the award, honoring women for their achievements in law and public service, has been given to other women who share Whitman's position on abortion, including Hillary Rodham Clinton and Justice O'Connor.

Briefs, gathered from news services, correspondents and staff, are compiled and edited by Teresa Malcolm.