Christian Student Wins Battle to Start Pro-Life Group at Her College

A Christian college student in California has successfully established a pro-life club on her campus, overcoming an initial rejection by school administrators who cited concerns over political affiliations, in a win for pro-life advocates.

Linda-Isabella Rendon, a sophomore pre-nursing major at Vanguard University, founded the group after her application to start a chapter of Students for Life of America was denied earlier this year. The private Christian university rejected the proposal, stating it did not permit political or ideological student organizations.

Rendon met with university President Michael Beals following the denial, but the decision remained unchanged. Students for Life intervened by sending a letter on November 19, signed by its attorney, to Beals and Vice President for Student Development Amanda Lebrecht. The letter accused the school of a “lack of cooperation” and emphasized the club’s alignment with Christian values.

“The goals of [Vanguard University Students for Life] are not to form a politically motivated club that would cause controversy on campus, but rather to defend the life of the most innocent and to give a voice to the voiceless,” the letter stated.

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It added: “Linda-Isabella seeks to form a club for [likeminded Christians] to care for women that are struggling with a monumental decision, to help point them towards choosing life, and ultimately to help point them towards Christ.”

The letter further noted: “Yet, after meetings with various administrators, Linda-Isabella’s efforts were denied. She was informed that a pro-life club would not be permitted, as the University has made a decision to stop allowing ‘political’ student organizations on campus.”

Publicity from Students for Life, including social media support and an article on their website, prompted another meeting on November 24 with Rendon, Beals and Lebrecht. During the discussion, Rendon clarified that the club’s focus was service-oriented and rooted in the school’s Christian mission, not political activism.

“God created us before we even were in the womb. He knew our purpose and the plans that he has for our lives, and obviously, as a Christian university, they want to support this message,” Rendon said.

She added: “So once we really shared our goal and our intention of this club is when we were able to make some progress… We were told that Vanguard is pro-life, and they want to support a pro-life club, and so in the end, we will be having our pro-life club here on campus, and we are going to be naming it Vanguard Lions Love Life.”

The new club, Vanguard Lions Love Life, will operate independently from Students for Life and plans activities such as diaper drives, baby bottle campaigns and baby showers for pregnant women who choose life.