BEMIDJI 鈥� Bemidji State students were scattered across the Centennial Plaza on campus Wednesday morning writing meaningful, positive and inclusive messages with chalk to promote inclusion following an upsetting incident that took place the day before.
According to Student Senate Cabinet member Bridget Westrum, a man arrived on campus at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday carrying a sign with religious phrasing on it that many students felt was targeted hate speech.
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鈥淎round 11 a.m. there was an individual down here in the Centennial Plaza (yesterday) and he had this big sign with a bunch of hate speech on it,鈥� Westrum recounted. 鈥淗e was shouting at students (with a bullhorn) telling them that they're going to hell for being gay or having sex before marriage and things like that. So it's not just gay people, but it seemed like everybody that wasn鈥檛 him is going to hell 鈥� it was super disheartening.鈥�
Westrum noted that some students felt they were targeted specifically based on their appearance and sexual identity.
鈥淗e was definitely targeting students with colored hair,鈥� Westrum said. 鈥淎nd then there was a 16-year-old (post-secondary education) student who was really getting berated by this guy because she is lesbian. And, she kind of got into it with him a little bit and then things got really elevated in that moment."
She said at that point, others became involved in the incident, around 1 p.m., and the man was asked to stay out in front of the campus on the public sidewalk.
鈥淎nd still he was on the sidewalk for a while and then people started coming and he started moving his way back closer to campus and the buildings," Westrum explained. "After every class got out, he would shout at everybody walking out of the building."
Westrum said he finally left around 3 p.m. and no students were physically harmed.
A campus of unity
On Tuesday night Westrum came up with the idea to create a small 鈥淧ositive Messages in the Plaza鈥� event to bring the campus together and be a voice for students in response to the day prior.
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鈥淚 can be a voice for students from time to time and this seemed like a good, colorful way to bring people together,鈥� Westrum shared. 鈥淚 think there's been some solidarity created. Yesterday we had a prayer circle before that individual left. Some religious individuals came and prayed for the individuals feeling hate. I think it was really heartening for a lot of people to be like, 鈥楾his person is religious and they are telling me that this (religious) guy is wrong (about me).鈥�"
The plaza continued to fill with loving messages as the day went on.
鈥淪tudent Senate and our student community here at BSU do not support the actions of the individual who was on our campus yesterday,鈥� Student Senate President Darby Bersie said. 鈥淚t's so awesome to see all of the people that joined together here today to transfer positive messages to the students on our campus. We're already such a tight-knit community and spur-of-the-moment events like these only push us closer together.鈥�
Students could be seen mingling together as they drew messages. People were seen laughing and hugging as they greeted each other and grabbed a piece of chalk.
鈥淣obody on this campus supports the message that was shared yesterday,鈥� BSU President John Hoffman shared. 鈥淭here is nothing about our campus that wants to support that message in any way.鈥�
Hoffman added that Bemidji State鈥檚 most impactful way to combat such negativity is through the students and their voices.
鈥淥ur most powerful tool is our students,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淲ith them, we can lift up our voices and drown out the voice of hate. I am thrilled that this (event) is coming from a student's idea so quickly and decisively. Look at all of the students we鈥檝e got here. We've got a lot of folks who are communicating this message of love, acceptance and support."
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He also encouraged students to rely on each other even when it's not for something as dramatic as this incident, but to be a positive support system for one another year-round.
鈥淲hen you've had a rough day, come into these spaces where folks are going to reinforce you," he said. "This community helps to sustain all of us when we have bad days. We need you, we want you here. You have value.鈥�
The Trust Project
