A field of blue and pink flags drew a crowd of supporters, opponents and self-identified anarchists to the area between Monroe Hall and the Old Library on Nov. 27. The flags were part of the Cemetery of Innocents display put on by the Loyola Life Group.

The Cemetery featured approximately 3,600 flags, representing the average number of abortions per day in the United States, according to Loyola Life, an anti-abortion group on campus. Tim Nebel, religious studies senior and Loyola Life Group president, said the display was an objective example.

“The purpose of the display is to illicit civil and sincere dialogue on this emotionally complex issue,” Nebel said.

The event featured two new additions this year. A free speech board was set up for students to express their opinions, whether they support the anti-abortion or the abortion rights position. The Loyola Life Group also provided people on site for one-on-one discussions this year.

“Without dialogue, the event is kind of worthless,” Nebel said.

Students covered the free speech board in writing by the end of the day. Many comments responded to others, while some were written as a continuous thread. Nebel said the reaction to the board was positive and people seemed to like reading, writing and laughing at some of the sillier comments posted. One member of Loyola Life said writing on the board was a good and productive way to disagree with Loyola Life.

Loyola Life Group member Nick Courtney, medieval studies and philosophy sophomore, said the board allowed students to leave their opinions in a safer and more comfortable way. Courtney, who participated in last year’s event, said there was more dialogue this year and that the free speech board allowed it.

Nebel said the board drew a crowd and created a good environment for the one-on-one dialogues. “I talked to more than 10 people today on my own from anywhere between five and 20 minutes.”

While a number of comments were written in support of the display, others supported abortion rights. At one point in the afternoon, a group of “self-identified anarchists” rode through the field on bikes, throwing condoms and pulling up some of the flags, Nebel said.

Veronica Sanchez, general studies freshman and member of Loyola Life, said she’d “rather have people thinking about it and be offended than not think about it at all.” Sanchez, who witnessed the group ride through the field, said “obviously we’ve touched a nerve with some people.”

“I appreciate that they’re trying to create an open dialogue about an issue they care about, but I feel that a far more urgent issue is how to ensure the well-being of the millions of children already living in poverty,” Hayden Dumas, history senior, said. “Our society needs to learn to take care of the children we already have before worrying about those not yet born.”

“This has been the most fruitful year we’ve had for this,” Nebel said about the Cemetery of Innocents.

Tara Templeton can be reached at [email protected].