President Obama tackled the long-controversial issue of abortion rights during his first week in office, giving the executive order to overturn the ban of the U.S. funding abortion services overseas.

Representatives of different communities have expressed both anger and approval over a topic that has been widely debated domestically and internationally.

"It's one of the worst things we can do," said Dolores Meehan, co-chairwoman of Walk for Life, an anti-abortion organization, referring to the executive order. "Rather than helping women who are in poverty who want to care for their children, we do not give them the option to have a child, feed and educate him, but only the option to stop him from being born."

Known as the global gag rule, the policy prevents all non-governmental organizations, which receive federal funding, to promote abortion services in other countries.

The policy has been favorable with Republicans but not so much with Democrats since the policy began in 1984 during the Reagan administration.

"I think that a lot of countries besides us are economically in crisis and not being able to have abortions can make it very hard on a family with multiple children," said Emma*, 20, who had an abortion eight months after her first child was born in 2005.

The decision has been met with mixed feelings among SF State students and faculty.

"I think it's a good start for the administration," said junior Dena Rod. "But I'd rather see [Obama] working on LGBT issues and repealing the Defense Marriage Act."

Jaimes Guerrero, women's studies professor, said that it's "a good thing" Obama overturned the ban because "the U.S. should not have such strings attached to this aid."

"We shouldn't be dictating to other countries from a Republican fundamentalist stance on abortions and any other women's reproductive rights issues," Guerrero said in an email.

Carlos Narvaez, 19, says that having the choice for an abortion is good in case the victim of a sexual assault resulting in accidental pregnancy wants to have the option of receiving medical treatment.

"I don't think anyone should tell you what to do," Narvaez said. "No one should hold the power of what you should do."

Frank Lee, coordinator for the Asian Americans Against Abortion, was surprised that Obama had focused his attention on this policy rather than something more important, during his first few days in office.

"The top priority of our president and the administration is to try to work together to help us win the battle of economics," Lee said. "Right now is a time to be united... not the time to be divided."

This sentiment is echoed by other students on campus.

"I'm all for it, but with the economic situation we are in right now, it is not the best idea," said 18-year-old Tom Maendle. "It's a good cause, but can we really afford it? I think before we help other countries, we should take care of things here."

* Name has been changed.