Our Take

On Sunday, Jan. 31, The All State broke news that Westboro Baptist Church has APSU down on their calendar to come and picket the Unity Celebration Dinner speaker Judy Shepard.

According the their Web site, www.godhatesfags.com, “WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth.”

We at TAS feel they, as well as other protestors, have the same rights as every one else to protest no matter if it’s something we don’t agree with.

TAS is protected by freedom of the press in first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, like WSC is protected by freedom of speech, religion and to peaceful assembly. The keyword, though, is peaceful.

Last semester, PinPoint Evangelism came to campus to deliver their message. After University Facilities approved the duo, they went to the Free Speech Area located in the Morgan University Center Plaza between the UC and the Harvill bookstore, and a crowd quickly grew.

Some students ignored it while others argued and debated with them. A few students even mocked them by “healing other students” and pretended to be preach the same words as the protesters.

Whenever protests occur on campus, we at TAS believe they should be respected because they are within their rights to protest. According the Free Speech Area Guidelines published in the Student Handbook, “the use of the Free Speech Area is for any organization (campus or non-campus) or individual (campus or non-campus) for the exhortation of a position topic or issue.”

Some editorial board members feel we pay thousands of dollars to receive an education and this disrupts the education flow. If students are being yelled at, they have the right to yell back.

The editorial board did agree if APSU sent out an e-mail notifying students, faculty and staff about a protest that day, students will be aware and can avoid the event taking place that day if they wish.

In order to reserve the Free Speech Area, an organization must contact the University Facilities office. Free speech activists cannot exceed 90 minutes, although the Office of the President can grant exceptions for reserved use.

As of press time, Monday, Feb. 1, WBC had not registered the Plaza with University Facilities.