After the Alliance for Family (AZR) failed in its attempt to have its campaign TV ads against the adoption of children by gays and lesbians broadcast, with broadcasters not touching the issue, it's picked a new target for promotion: universities, writes the Hospodárske Noviny daily on Tuesday. The Alliance for Family endeavours to present its viewpoint via public debates at such venues, already holding discussions with students from the University Pastoral Centre at Comenius University in Bratislava and at Trnava University. "The university shouldn't prevent socially relevant and free discussions", explained rector of Trnava University Marek Šmid concerning the reasons for providing a venue for debate. These debates however are being arranged without opponents; being one-sided. Šmid did not react when asked whether the other side should have been invited to the debate; he only added that the university only responded to the request for a debate submitted by the organisers. Žilina University has taken a different attitude however. Although the university originally agreed to provide the venue for a debate, the rector changed his mind based on the lack of balance in opinion. For now it remains unclear whether there will be more debates of this kind in the future. The Education, Science, Research and Sport Ministry noted that activities of this kind go beyond its remit. "The only condition is that it can't involve the activities of political parties and movements", said ministry spokesperson Martina Slušná.

Gavin Shoebridge, Photo: SITA