Between recent secret video tapings and presidential debates, the funding that the government provides to Planned Parenthood has become a hot button issue.

The video in question was released by The Center for Medical Progress early in September. The video seems to show a Planned Parenthood representative discussing the unsavory topic of selling fetal body parts. The video has been debunked, but that hasn’t stopped many, like the republican candidate Carly Fiorina, from talking about it.

Although her comments during the most recent debate, describing a video which no else seems to have seen or be able to find, is more well known, she has also made other statements about the issue.

“This latest news is tragic and outrageous. This isn’t about ‘choice.’ It’s about profiting on the death of the unborn while telling women it’s about empowerment,” Fiorina said.

However, many Millikin students, even those who identify as conservative, disagree with Fiorina and the possible defunding of Planned Parenthood.

“Planned Parenthood helps a lot of people in a lot of ways. They provide PAP smears, birth control and breast cancer screenings,” said Hunter Bailey, a senior communication major, “I think that they play a vital part in women’s health and give people a safe place to go to when they’re going through a particularly hard time, or making really hard choices.”

Students who consider themselves pro-choice are also against the defunding of the organization.

“I think cutting funding would be a bad idea,” Lexi Rogers said, “without Planned Parenthood, a lot of people wouldn’t have access to birth control. Birth control is such a big thing. If it’s unavailable, then it will only lead to more abortions, not less. I don’t see how defunding Planned Parenthood could end with fewer abortions.”

Planned Parenthood preforms a lot of additional services to their more controversial ones. The organization has made several statements about the videos and denying their involvement in the illegal sale of fetal tissue.

“At several of our health centers, we help patients who want to donate tissue for scientific research, and we do this just like every other high-quality health care provider does — with full, appropriate consent from patients and under the highest ethical and legal standards,” A Planned Parenthood release said. “There is no financial benefit for tissue donation for either the patient or for Planned Parenthood. In some instances, actual costs, such as the cost to transport tissue to leading research centers, are reimbursed, which is standard across the medical field.”

The organization also sponsored a #PinkOut day, where supporters were encouraged to wear pink and post it to their social media with the hashtag.

The issue of abortion will always strike emotions and opinions that for many are at the core of who they are. The need for Planned Parenthood and the services they provide, however, is not changing. And as the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, resigns his seat in order to prevent another shut down over the funding for the organization, it’s clear that supporting, or attempting to defund Planned Parenthood will be a contentious issue for the future.