The passing of a ban on partial-birth abortion Tuesday by the U.S. Senate stirred up strong reactions from those on both sides of the issue — nationally and locally.

Leaders of ISU organizations have different opinions on the issue, but agree the repercussions of this decision are just beginning.

“This is a step in the right direction, but as far as pro-life issues go, this is a tiny, tiny thing,” said James Wilson, adviser for Students for Life.

Wilson, associate professor of mathematics, compared the Senate’s decision to policies in Nazi Germany.

“[Criminalizing some abortion procedures but not others] is like outlawing certain kinds of exterminations under Hitler’s regime but allowing others,” he said.

Nichole Feuerstein, president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, disagreed, saying the ban puts restrictions on women’s reproductive options.

Banning partial birth abortion “restricts safe abortion procedures necessary for many women,” she said.

“It makes no allowance for a mother’s health.”

The bill asserts the procedure is not safe for women’s health, describing it as “a disfavored procedure that is not only unnecessary to preserve the health of the mother, but in fact poses serious risks to the long-term health of women and in some circumstances, their lives.”

Members of the U.S. Senate disagreed on the exact definition of a partial-birth abortion. Feuerstein agreed — the term is defined differently across different disciplines.

“The term ‘partial-birth abortion’ is a court term and is not medically accurate,” Feuerstein said.

“It’s a very broad term as they are recognizing it right now.”

Opponents of the legislation argue the ban is unconstitutional. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. vowed to defeat the ban in a statement released Wednesday.

President George W. Bush is expected to sign the legislation when he returns to Washington, D.C. later this week. Planned Parenthood is expected to take legal action to prevent the bill from becoming law.

The manager of the Ames branch of Planned Parenthood was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Feuerstein said she believes Planned Parenthood’s challenge of the ban will be successful.

“From my understanding, the ban is unconstitutional,” she said. “It violates a woman’s privacy between her and her doctor.”