UNC Professor Says Terminate Fetuses with Down Syndrome

Please see the article here: http://www.lifenews.com/state2906.html

I e-mailed the Chancellor. You can contact UNC here at:

ACTION: Contact UNC about Professor Harris at Office of the Chancellor, 103 South Building, Campus Box 9100, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9100. Email chancellor@unc.edu, call (919) 962-1365 or fax (919) 962-1647.

Here's my e-mail:

I recently read the article about Professor Harris explaining to students his opinion that fetuses found to have certain trisomies should be aborted. Where did you find this post-war Nazi? Seriously I've heard many Professors opinions during my college years and nothing has offended me as much as hearing this.

My son has Trisomy 21 DS and he is not a regret, he is a member of my family. I don't need to explain this to you. But, what you need to do is either ask your Professor to apologize to people with disabilities or fire him on the spot. I would like for some students to bring in some College Students with DS (yes, oh my God some do manage to make it through life) to sit in on a lecture and have him repeat his stance.

REPLY 2/20/08

Thank you for taking the time to write and let us know that you were offended by the statement that our biology professor made. We at the University are guided by the principles of academic freedom, and our understanding is that Professor Harris was trying to illustrate the ethical and moral questions that science sometimes presents. Nevertheless, his comments were insensitive and hurtful, particularly to those whose lives have been enriched by a child or family member with Down syndrome.

Sincerely,

Nancy Davis
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill