When Tulane was too “busy” to film an anti-abortion movie on campus this summer, they got awfully lucky. What happens on this campus and is endorsed by our administration is a direct reflection of the values this university holds.

“We strive to foster the highest potential within individuals and hold ourselves to sound personal and professional ethical principles,” Tulane’s values state.

Roe v. Wade was a decision that moved women towards equality. In many minds, access to free, safe abortions is a discussion of ethics and human rights. Given these values are stated in our mission statement, Tulane should be supporting this mission in practice.

Tulane working to provide students safe spaces to voice their opinions and promising not to penalize incoming students for protesting are ways for the university to support free speech. The decision to film this movie on campus is not a matter of free speech. Granting permission to film a movie on Tulane’s campus is a direct endorsement of the values that movie stands by.

The University claimed that refusing to shoot a movie based off controversial content does not hold true to values of free expression of thought. This is a film that is actively against fundamental rights for over half of the student body. It’s rather concerning to think what other messages the university would be willing to support on the grounds of “free speech.”

Abortion is a sensitive and real topic of conversation. This is not an issue of the past, but one that has unfortunately been brought to the surface under the Trump administration. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has had dramatic hearings that have left many thinking about the potential consequences of having a Republican Supreme Court.

For the first time in 45 years, women are questioning the security of these rights in a very real sense. The Tulane campus and community should not be another source of anxiety for women. This place of education that supposedly fosters inclusivity and responsibility should not be the home of a film directly threatening human rights.

Tulane should never push down opinions. In fact, this university should foster and promote discourse on uncomfortable and relevant issues. But the encouragement of free speech does not mean allowing a highly controversial film to use our space as the backdrop of their message for people far beyond this community to see.