A campus pro-life club at the University of Victoria has dropped a lawsuit against the student union after they agreed to reinstate the club's status and funding that was previously revoked after student complaints.

The lawsuit came after complaints were filed against Youth Protecting Youth (YPY) regarding the group’s actions and posters. The group lost its club status in February after the university’s student society (UVSS) received 32 complaints as a result of the group's controversial methods of activism across campus.

“We were surprised that the posters caused so much controversy and that people claimed they harassed and promoted violence against woman,” YPY president Anastasia Pearse said. “We were even more surprised when our funding was denied in fall 2008 because of them.”

According to Pearse the group attempted to host a debate in October 2009 so both sides could represent their views but the event never took place due to conflicting views.

According to CTV News, pro-choice groups claimed the pro-life groups violated its harassment policy.

The lawsuit was dropped for financial reasons. It would have cost $30,000–$50,000  just to step into court, according to UVSS chair James Coccola.

In spite of the lack of legal action Coccola said YPY “still has a responsibility to be a reasonable member in the community and to abide by the same rules as any other club. This isn’t a free pass; they have a responsibility to be respectful.”
Coccola added the issue has being going on since 2008 because groups such as feminists for life were offended and felt harassed by the pro-life group.

In 2009 YPY welcomed a speaker from the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical reform and more complaints were filed.
According to Coccola after withdrawing funding and students to finalize a new policy addressing all concerns, YPY initiated legal action.

Pearse said she is happy with the settlement and has had many new members join the club. However, she said the issue should not have to come this far.

“On a university campus we should be mature enough to discuss controversial topics in a respectful way, rather than silence our opposition just because we disagree with them,” she said.

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association also had some points to make with regards to the case. Spokesperson John Dixon said, “If the lawsuit had gone to work, [YPY] would’ve won. It was clearly the judgment of the university student society.”