At least 100 Hillsdale students will be traveling overnight on Thursday to attend the annual March For Life in Washington, D.C.
The March for Life is a yearly gathering of hundreds of thousands of people to remember the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, that legalized abortion. This year marks 40 years since the decision.
Enjoying refreshments provided by Saga, Inc., the students will board chartered busses about 7 p.m. on Thursday. They will march at noon on Friday and return by Saturday morning by 8 a.m.
In the past, students have taken two full days for the trip . This year, they will make the pilgrimage in about 36 hours.
“If anything, it has made it available for more people to go,” sophomore organizer Thomas King said.
Senior Jordan Adams, president of Students for Life, said the club made the decision to shorten it for two reasons. First, he said asking for two days from Hillsdale students is asking too much.
“Our first responsibility here as a student is to the college and to our professors,” he said.
Adams said the second reason is more philosophical, as the nine hour drive to and from the nation’s capital is “a pilgrimage, not a protest.”
“The nature of a pilgrimage,” he said, “involves in some a way, a sacrifice. Part of it’s missing class. Part of it’s the cost. Mostly it’s the lack of sleep, really kind of roughing it for a few days, and then tying that to prayer, a special emphasis this year.”
While on the bus, the students will set aside several times to pray together for groups of people who have been affected by abortion. He added that they attempt to apply prayer to “every aspect” of the trip.
Senior Emma Smith, vice president of Students For Life, said the march has been meaningful to her every time she has gone. This year will be her ninth march.
“It’s really powerful to stand for life,” she said.
She added that the number of people present at the march also make the trip encouraging.