You know you go to a Catholic college when...

I am not happy about attending a Catholic university right now.

On my way to class this evening I was in my own little world, listening to music and thinking about who knows what, when I came across many small white crosses standing upright in the grass near my classroom building. I was immediately curious what message they were intended to send. Then I saw the large sign that went with them. It stated something along the lines of "Each cross represents 10 women and children who are victimized by abortion everyday." I read the sign three times before it fully computed. I kept getting stuck on the word "victimized". The crosses were supposed to be grave markers I realized. Yes I am pro-choice, but my issue with this anti-abortion imagery is not that it is pro-life, but rather that they appear to be going for shock value rather than voicing a message of substance. I find the imagery and the message on the sign to be offensive and problematic. This idea that women are being "victimized" by abortion is condescending. I think what bothers me most though is that the college must have endorsed this demonstration. People have the right to voice their opinions, but I also have the right to go to class without being accosted by offensive imagery. Hold meetings, share information at them, advertise for the meetings, but do not use shock tactics and do not force me to view your offensive imagery by putting it where I need to go to get to class. Your right to express your views should not impinge on my right to go to class without being harassed.