Protesters stood on the corner of Locust and Hanna telling students at DePauw University "You deserve to go to hell."
REBECA BAGDOCIMO / THE DEPAUW
Hundreds of students, staff and faculty gathered on DePauw University’s Ubben Quad this afternoon to express frustration and outrage after a minority student and staff member were detained by police. The pair were attempting to stifle four off-campus protesters who shouted messages of homophobia, sexism and racism.
The Terre Haute-based group, who calls itself The Campus Ministry USA, gathered on the sidewalk at the corner of Hanna and Locust Streets at around 11:30 a.m. holding signs with messages such as “You Deserve Hell,” and “Hell Awaits You.” One of the four protesters was dressed in a Boy Scout uniform.
Students on their way to lunch quickly gathered around the area in an impromptu ‘counter-protest.’ They brought out speakers to blare loud
DePauw University sophomore Marissa Higgs (middle) brings a rainbow flag to hold in front of students and protestors.
REBECA BAGDOCIMO / THE DEPAUW
music, chanted and waved gay-pride flags.
According to Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray The Campus Ministry USA have visited other schools in Indiana this past week, including Indiana University and Indiana State University. The group’s Facebook page states: “Our purpose is to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the college and university students of America and the world.”
Over the next hour, the group grew to several dozen, including President Brian Casey, various members of DePauw’s community, Greencastle and state police.
Students and administrators were crying. Tension grew. One girl, a female student, threw a hot cup of coffee at the protestors. Then, sophomore Avery Nash approached the protesters. He was then detained by police as was Andrew Smith, assistant director for alumni engagement.
A DePauw University student was pinned down by police officers at 1:38 pm during a protest in Bowman Park.
REBECA BAGDOCIMO / THE DEPAUW
The police wrestled them to the ground and put their knees to the two mens’ backs.
“I was trying to protect a student, and we both got taken down,” Smith wrote in a Facebook post.
Director of Public Safety, Angela Nally, addressed the students present, urging them to move along and to rise above the protesters.
“DePauw’s better than this,” she said.
Nash and Smith were led off the scene. No arrests were made.
“I’m sad that this broke out in fights. That’s exactly what the picketers wanted...Love over hate,” said senior Andrew Petersen. “Don’t engage them. That’s the way that they win.”
As the protesters were escorted away by Public Safety and Greencastle police, DePauw students chanted the Supremes song, “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye).”
In a hastily arranged open forum, students were encouraged to gather on Ubben quad at 4 p.m. to express their frustration with the protesters and the administration’s inability to protect them from verbal attacks.
Student body president, Craig Carter, was the first to address the crowd gathered.
“They [The Campus Ministry USA] believed that we were weak enough as a campus to not come together as a campus based upon this plight,” he said. “They believed that we wouldn’t stand up for those members of our community.”
Petersen agreed.
“I think though that this did show that we are kind of united in that we won’t stand for hate.”
As Carter spoke, he addressed the student body not only as their president, but also as a fellow student.
“I’m angry,” he said. “I’ve never been more mad in my life.”
Long lines of students waited for a chance to address the crowd. Casey, Murray, Carter, Vice President for Student Life Christopher Wells and the Title VIIII Coordinator Renee Madison stood on the front steps of Lucy Rowland Hall for more than two hours listening to the continual stream of students venting.
“It gets you angry, and it doesn’t make you come to events and get all lovey dovey. You get it out,” said first-year student Ishmael Michel. “You know what I mean? This is what it was for. I don’t feel like it was to, ya know sing kumbayas and cupcakes and whatever.”
He continued, “So when we’re getting angry don’t take it as a negative. We’re not angry at you. We’ve just gotta get stuff out.”
This is not the first racially charged incident on campus recently.
Ashton Johnson ‘15 published an opinion piece in The DePauw in 2014, lambasting the lack of opportunity for minority students. Her piece, titled “Excuse me, but your privilege is in our way was picked up by the Huffington Post.
A campus-wide movement--”DePauw doesn’t care”--evolved soon after. This past spring, classes were canceled so the campus could come together to discuss diversity and micro-aggressions to minority groups. But, many students of color on campus do not think that DePauw as a whole has done enough to ensure the campus is welcoming to all.
Undeterred, a spokesman from The Campus Ministry USA told D3TV they have plans to return next week.
“We shall return!” Tweeted member of the group, Brother Jed Smock, at The DePauw.