Grand Valley State University’s Women’s Center will host an event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from noon to 1 p.m. to discuss the implications of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. This discussion is part of a larger series of events put on by the Women’s Center, Talk Back Tuesday.

Every first Tuesday of the month at the Women’s Center, in Room 1201 in the Kirkhof Center, there will be a Talk Back Tuesday discussion to express opinions about important issues like the Hobby Lobby decision.

In the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that was made final on June 30, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that for-profit employers with religious objections can opt out of providing contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act, known more commonly as Obamacare, in a 5-4 vote. This decision was a prime topic of conversation in the media for weeks and has many opinions and information regarding it.

Talk Back Tuesday was developed by Women’s Center Director Jessica Jennrich in order to create a program that involves current topics discussed in social media.

JoAnn Wassenaar, associate director of the Women’s Center, explained that student workers at the Women’s Center typically come up with the topic of each event.

“Students look at what is being discussed in social media and then plan a program with a facilitator that would discuss those issues,” Wassenaar said.

This week’s talk will be facilitated by health care expert and GVSU alumni Dani Vilella, the West Michigan regional field manager for Planned Parenthood. Vilella will offer valuable insight toward the topic and clear up any misinformation students may have heard.

Anyone is invited attend and voice their opinion or ask questions.

“We’re welcoming all opinions,” Wassenaar said. “Hopefully people will take on a more critical view of the decision and why or why not it went the way it went.”

Jasmine Broadnax is a student worker in the Women’s Center and will be attending the event.

“I think it’s a good idea that this topic is being talked about since some people don’t know anything about it. I want to go to learn more information about it,” Broadnax said.

Students are welcome to bring up topics they would like to be discussed in future Talk Back Tuesday events. They will be paired up with a student worker at the Women’s Center to plan it and find a qualified facilitator related to the topic.

On Nov. 4, the Talk Back Tuesday topic will center on the recent actions of Ray Rice. A videotape of Rice assaulting his then-fiancée, now wife, was released by TMZ, which brought up the issue of domestic violence.

Students should contact JoAnn Wassenaar if they are interested in leading a Talk Back Tuesday at [email protected]. Contact the Women’s Center with any questions about a specific topic or event at [email protected].