Conservative political commentator Liz Wheeler addressed Notre Dame students on pro-life advocacy in the wake of the recent Ostermann scandal. The lecture, hosted by Notre Dame College Republicans (NDCR) and sponsored by the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, took place on March 19 in Debartolo Hall.
A devout Catholic, wife, and mother, Wheeler is a prominent figure in the conservative movement. Best known for her podcast, The Liz Wheeler Show, she is also the author of Tipping Points: How to Topple the Left’s House of Cards and Hide Your Children: Exposing the Marxists Behind the Attack on America’s Kids.
In her speech, Wheeler emphasized the universal call to protect life, in all capacities: “No matter how mundane the position, no matter how unexpected the opportunity may be, each and every one of us will be called at some point in our life to go against the grain … we will be called to do what is right.”
To illustrate her point, Wheeler shared her experience serving as a commissioner on her local zoning board, where her tie-breaking vote prevented an abortion doctor from displaying illegal signage advertising his clinic. “This was my first introduction into the reality that politics isn’t a game,” Wheeler said. “It’s not just for those of us who are a hybrid of competitive and nerdy. It is actually a battle between good versus evil.”
Wheeler also commented on the recent fallout surrounding Susan Ostermann’s appointment as director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, which ended when Ostermann declined the position in February.
“I am not here today to scold the University of Notre Dame for appointing Professor Ostermann to the head of the Liu Institute despite her virulent radical pro abortion [activism],” Wheeler said. “I’m not here to condemn the administration or belittle them. I’m here because you matter as individuals … and as an institution, the University of Notre Dame—Our Lady’s university—matters.”
“What I am here today to do is challenge the University of Notre Dame to moral courage. … I’m here today to remind the University of Notre Dame that when you succeed, Catholics all over the world succeed, and when you fail morally, you lead Catholics all over the world to moral failure.”
In an interview with the Rover after her lecture, Wheeler exhorted students to use Ostermann’s appointment as an “opportunity to both communicate the reality of abortion and also communicate the beauty of the Catholic doctrine on the dignity of life. … I think it’s a beautiful opportunity to both explain the pro-life position and also explain the Catholic doctrine.”
“[The] role as a student journalist is to expose any corruption that obscures the truth,” Wheeler told the Rover. “You are afforded this position where you are a Catholic talking to other Catholics, and so you don’t have to set that aside to speak to a secular audience. You can preserve the integrity of the mission of this institution by pointing people towards the truth and using your reporting to do so.”
Sophomore Luke Mantooth told the Rover, “The talk was really enlightening. … I was surprised at how much she knew about the faith and the pro-life movement.”
NDCR co-president and senior Aedan Whalen told the Rover that there was a “tremendous spirit in the room,” saying, “We were praying the Hail Mary; we’re all celebrating the pro-life movement on campus and the great work that so many of the students have done and are still doing.”
Whalen told the Rover that his main takeaway was that “everyone has a part to play in the pro-life movement, no matter what sphere of conservatism you’re a part of.”
Aly Rothfus is a freshman Gateway student studying history. As the weather warms up, she’s actually starting to like her walks to Notre Dame from Holy Cross (or, as the Gateways call it,, the Holy Hike). Next year, she’ll miss the exercise and fresh air, but will be happy to say goodbye to walking through 2 feet of unplowed snow to get to class in January. If you have any questions or need a walking buddy, you can reach her at arothfus@nd.edu.