Some people walk straight past it, others stop and stare, some shake their head in disgust, some shout in support for one side or another and some will stop to talk and ask questions with the volunteers of the display.

Every semester a controversial display known as the Genocide Awareness Project sets up large displays of graphic images of aborted fetuses comparing abortion to other historical forms of genocide. 

"I absolutely hate it when GAP comes to campus. I have seen this for the past four years that I have been here and I find it offensive. It is probably very painful for someone who has experienced abortion, either directly or indirectly," Amber Scott, a Political Science major, said.

The GAP travels nationwide to more than 50 college campuses. They look for big campuses to get their messege to as many people as possible. They also look for influential campuses that have a lot of students who are going to be leaders in their community. UT fits all these criteria and has been visitied more than any other school.

It is sponsored by the UT Pro-Life Collegians. It is a non-profit group funded by private donations and was developed by The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.

GAP visits universities around the the country to show as many students as possible what abortion actually does to unborn children and to get them to think about abortion in a broader historical context. 

"Part of our job as social reformers is to help people see who the unborn child is, understand the humanity of that child and to help people see the inhumanity of abortion." -Fletcher Armstrong, Director of South East Region Operations

The project defines "genocide" according to the Webster`s New World Encyclopedia, 1992, as the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, racial, religious, cultural, ethinic, or other group defined by the exterminators as undesirable.

The GAP compares abortion to genocide on the points that personhood is always redefined to exclude the intended victim class, genocide is often framed in the language of "choice," the victim class tends to be people who have what we want or get in our way, the victim class is often seen as a "disease" on society or as diseased themsleves and resources are inadequate to care for the intended victim class if they are allowed to live.  

Fletcher Armstrong, Director of Southeast Region Operations Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, explained that in many episodes of genocide one group of people thought it was okay to kill another group of humans and in every case the group in power thought it was good.

"At the most basic level we are trying to let people know that the unborn child is a baby not a blob of tissue, not a mass of cells even in the first trimester. Second abortion is an act of violence. We want to explore with people why they think abortion is a justifiable act of violence," Armstrong said.

Kindra Grosso, an applicant for Graduate school and her husband Dominick Grosso were visiting the campus and saw the display.

"We are pro life. It is really gruesome and glorifying. I think this is a great area to get these kids to stop and think about it. College campuses are a great place to put this. The images are tough to look at, but very powerful," Kindra Grosso says said.

Dominick Grosso believes that the pictures are there to provoke a thought process.

"If you don`t see the pictures you dont see the fetus so when you have an abortion you don`t think it is alive because you don`t see it," he said. 

Because the topic of abortion is controversial, emotional, debated and divided the GAP encounters opposition to their arguments.

Lindsay Sharpe, a senior in anthropology, eology and evolutionary biology does not condone or agree with the message at all. She says their use of the term "genocide" is not only funamentally flawed in definition, but also inherently insensitive to the victims of actual genocide.

"As stipulated by the United Nation's Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Article II, 1948), genocide means 'any acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a NATIONAL, ETHNICAL, RACIAL, or RELIGIOUS group.' Age, gender, political affiliation, and socio-political circumstances are not accounted for in this definition. Abortion in the US cannot be considered genocide because women are not being rounded up and coerced into getting abortions," Sharpe said.

"I am pro-choice because I believe that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy as they see fit. I may not necessarily agree with the moral implications surrounding a particular abortion, but that is a moot point."  -Lindsay Sharpe

GAP was not alone in voicing their opinions and views. UT`s VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood protested the GAP`s presence. Shouting phrases like, "abortion is not genocide," "question the GAP" and "pro-choice equals pro-woman."

The VOX group first set up in front of the GAP display. They were asked to move from the cement side walk to the grassy area beside the pedestrian walkway so they were not infringing on the freedom of speech of the GAP.

Porshe Kristina, an MTSU student and volunteer with the GAP says that UT`s VOX group is a lot more peaceful than MTSU`s group.

"MTSU is more aggressive. There is more protesting, yelling, and shouting. It is more calm and respectful here," Kirsitna said. 

Other CBR programs include the Reproductive "Choice" Campaign, Matthew 28:20 , and AortionNO.  

Some student views on the GAP and abortion:

 "I don't agree with the GAP being on campus. I understand that college-age women are more likely than many other age groups to have abortions, but I don't think showing multiple pictures of mutilated fetuses will make an impact. I respect the GAP for standing up for their beliefs and principles; however, I believe they lend an ignorant voice on the matter. First of all, abortion is not genocide. This is not debatable. Genocide is the act of killing an entire population based on race, ethnicity, religion, etc. Aborted children do not fit into any of these categories. I am of Armenian descent and my people actually did endure a genocide. I think the GAP shows disrespect for those of us (Armenians, Jews, etc.) that actually did endure such a tragedy. Secondly, I, personally cannot see how showing pictures of aborted fetuses is going to change anyone's mind on the subject. I'm pro-choice and it does nothing but make me angry. I believe it is both a woman's right and none of the government's business what a woman does with her body. I don't necessarily think abortion is the right answer, but it's still not the government's place to put limitations on that sort of thing." -Kirsten Yates, journalism and electronic media

"I'm pro-life because I believe there are no mistakes. I do, however, agree with abortion only in cases of rape or incest. If neither of those apply to the woman, I believe that her abortion is wrong. I feel that the GAP coming here every year is unnecessary. They can advocate in some other way then in such graphic images. I'm pro-life too but I don't believe abortion can truly be compared to genocide. It's not a massacre going on."- Heather Downs, journalism and electronic media

"My opinions on the GAP are mixed. I understand the complaint that the pictures are disturbing and graphic - it is painful for me to look at them. Also, I think the comparison of abortion to genocide can be distracting, although the GAP does present some very good arguments for it in their pamphlet. I think it causes people to argue about whether abortion qualifies as genocide than debate over the real issue: whether abortion kills a human being and whether abortion should be legal or not. Furthermore, I know that the GAP display hurts many women by causing them to recall abortions that they regret - and that is what I hate the most about it. However, there is no other large-scale method available to our group that so clearly depicts the truth of the bloody reality of abortion and the undeniable humanity of a fetus - even a first trimester fetus. After seeing those pictures of aborted fetuses, I think it is much harder for someone to honestly continue believing that a fetus is a lump of tissue and not a living human being." -Heather Hogue, secretary of the Pro-Life Collegians
 
"What makes me pro-life is that I play an active role in fighting for the right to life for born and unborn a like. I believe it is a necessary tool in the fight against abortion. People complain about the graphic nature of the images, yet they don't complain about the brutality of abortion. Most students pay money to see movies like "Saw 1, 2 or 3" or "The Hills Have Eyes". GAP brings to light the reality of the brutality on humanity." -Jordan Lefebvre, president of the Pro-Life Collegians 

"Despite being raised Catholic, my mother always encouraged me to think for myself. I, however, tend to reject the absolutist viewpoint that abortion is always morally wrong. Under situations of extreme duress, I believe that abortion can sometimes be the better choice. As far as government involvement is concerned, abortion will not stop even if new laws are enacted to make it illegal. The moral of the story is, you cannot enact legislation based on the religious or moral beliefs of a specific bracket of individuals. Laws cannot and will not construct morality, especially if that legislation posits that women do not have the right to control their own bodies." -Lindsay Sharpe, anthropology, ecology and evolutionary biology