Interestingly enough, The Lafayette did not appear to cover a direct protest reacting to the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The only reason I know one occurred was through LRAJE history and word my mouth. The newspaper website does have a link to an article from The Morning Call. Under the section, “In the News” The Lafayette features a brief mention of students affiliated with the protest in downtown Easton. Even more interesting, I was told that these students are who planned the event– going beyond just attending an event in the community. It is hard to say why The Lafayette did not cover this protest.
Even though this source is slightly different, I wanted to include coverage from Lafayette. The news article below predates the overturn of Roe v. Wade. A student from the campus newspaper addressed the larger movement working to protect reproductive rights by showcasing Lafayette attendees at a protest in Texas.
lafayette-students-march-with-locals-to-protest-restrictive-abortion-legislation
This first section sets the tone for the entire article, beginning with a heading and visual that leans in favor of protestors. Another strength is the inclusion of self-identification by the student quoted throughout the article.
Demands are more broad, but a clear connection is shown to the pro-choice movement. Choosing to cover the actions of students thousands of miles away is a statement about selection in and of itself. This can be implied to convey campus support for this social movement. Even if it is simply the writer’s own mindset, the article was approved and edited by numerous other people on the newspaper. In a swing state like PA, abortion can be a contentious topic to discuss. The Lafayette is embracing this issue through this publication, even if they do shy away later.
The next section of this article begins to call on authority figures. As the leader of an on-campus reproductive justice organization (LRAJE), Thalia is afforded a lengthy quote. Her expert status is conveyed through the inclusion of her title and assumed leadership.
Even though not directly quoted, the writer went out of their way to call on professor’s expertise by including statements from Professor Silverstein. This illustrates further support for the social movement.
The final section of this article expands on the Conflict Frame by alluding to fears of confrontation. The speaker seems pleasantly surprised that no violent outbursts were seen.
The writer ends their article on a political note, shown through mention of Republican and Democratic groups on campus. It is especially interesting that only the College Republicans were contacted. This can be interpreted as the author attempting to get an alternative view by assuming that the College Democrats would be in agreement.
Overall, this news article is very favorable to Pro-Roe protestors and activists. The only ties to the Protest Paradigm can be seen in the Conflict Frame and potential spectacle through pro-life opposition.