Roughly 12,000 infants are abandoned annually in the United States alone,, and one student felt it was time to do something about it.

According to a study by James Bell Associates, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families, the number of infants abandoned doesn’t include the number of deceased newborns that are left in dumpsters, trash bins, alleyways, or parks.

“After reading some cases of dead babies being found, I got very upset,” said Rebecca Oliver.

Oliver, an SF State recreation and leisure studies major with an emphasis in nonprofit organizations, decided the best thing to do would be to start a club on campus.

“This is the best place to start this club,” said Oliver, considering many of the mothers who abandon their babies are young women.

The PAN Project, Protecting Abandoned Newborns, hopes to shed much needed light on this issue and inform mothers who do not want to keep their child that there are options to choose from besides discarding their child harmfully and illegally.

One of these options is the Safe Haven law, which states that any parent unwilling to care for their newborn can give up custody confidentially and with no questions asked, as long as the child is less than three days old. Some designated drop-off locations are police stations, firehouses, and hospitals. So far, 42 states have ratified the Safe Haven law.

As for PAN, Oliver said much of the club’s details and plans are still in the developing stage.

“Some of my ideas are maybe stickers with information about PAN in bathroom stalls and maybe even a PSA festival,” said Oliver. “I’ll develop the rest later.”

She also hopes to work closely with the nationally known organization, Project Cuddle.

Project Cuddle is a nonprofit charity that has been helping women and girls choose a legal and safe way to turn over their newborns. It focuses on hands-on help, from childbirth to counseling after the baby has been given up.

“They’re about action,” said Oliver. “We’ll be more about just bringing attention to the issue.”

Another development for the club is officially appointing a faculty advisor. Oliver made mention of recreation and leisure professor Erik Rosegard, though it’s all still being discussed.

“After I review [PAN Project’s] application, I can make an informed decision on my ability and interest in serving as faculty advisor,” said Rosegard.

Some students were skeptical of the need for a club like the PAN Project on campus.
“I feel that if we are getting to the point that we are dropping babies off, then there’s a problem,” said 21-year-old sociology major Aimee Forster, who doesn’t see a future for PAN at SF State.

“San Francisco State is too liberal,” said Forster. “People here are more likely to support abortion instead.”

But most students seemed willing and supportive.

“I personally know someone who dumped her baby in a dumpster,” said 20-year-old Danielle Didonato, an anthropology major. “She and her boyfriend didn’t want to tell their parents [about the baby] and it ruined their lives.”

Another student who approved of PAN was 21-year-old Melanie Chin.
“I think it’s a good idea to have a club like this because there might be a woman at State who gets pregnant and feels the urge to abandon her child,” she said.

Geography major James Rogers said he believes it’s important that women know that they have options like those of the Safe Haven law.

“You hear a lot about Iraq but you don’t really hear too much about abandoned babies,” he said.