Post by Jesse Morrell on May 4, 2006 19:07:30 GMT -5
The Oswegonian
April 28,2006
Students React to Visiting Preacher's Controversial Message
By Michelle Garcia
A throng of students and faculty surrounded an evangelical preacher in academic quad April 25 with police standing by. Students with signs, opinions, and disbelief rallied against Miles Lewis, a Pentecostal messenger from Open Air Outreach, some going toe-to-toe with him.
"I know that there's a lot of disagreement," University Police Officer David Scott said, addressing the crowd. "On a campus setting, we have to ensure the diversity of thought. We have to remember that everyone has the United States Constitutional right to freedom of speech."
Three police officers surrounded the crowd in the quad that begin by the sundial and ended on the eastern end. Lewis and his accomplice, Jesse Morrell, came to campus at 11 a.m. that day but were removed from campus for not having a permit. They later returned before the 3 p.m. class period.
According to Morrell, Lewis is from the Syracuse area and the pair has been traveling across the country this semester to other universities presenting their message in a similar fashion. Morrell himself has been preaching open air for four years.
"Our travels have brought us here to his [Lewis'] home turf," Morrell said. "We finished at Syracuse University yesturday and we've been to Rochester University [sic]."
Jeremiah Mazon, a senior journalism major and member of Brothers and Sisters in Christ confirmed that none of the college's religiou groups were involved with Lewis' visit to campus.
A diverse array of students rallied in the quad against Morrell and Lewis who did most of the preaching, including Jewish students, homosexuals or students of color. Women's Center and Rainbow Alliance members distributed "Out and Proud" as well as "Supporters of Equality" t-shirts to the crowd. Some female students chose to kiss in front of Lewis as he continued with his beliefs, citing Bible text.
"I think attractive homosexual men should find unattractive lesbian women and get married," Lewis said.
Some of the students said that they could not believe the speaker's views and that this must have been a practical joke.
"I've got a funny hat but this is not a hoax," Lewis said.
After standing in the quad and listening to Lewis or debating with him, some students decried to the crowd to leave.
"If we all walk away he has no one to talk to," one bystander said.
"His views, I think, are ridiculous," said former Student Association President Ian Farrell. "I think he's trampling all over people's free will, but he has every right to be here. All these people there don't have to stay and listen to him."
Josh Belser, a 2005 Oswego State graduate, said he was especially offended because of his Jewish backround.
"What he's promoting is certainly not Christianity," Belser said. "He's preaching hatred and bigotry."
Belser also mentioned the risk of physical altercations with Lewis people may involve themselves with. Earlier that afternoon, Belser himself came short of inciting violence with Lewis.
"When you attempt to incite people, this could turn ugly at any second," he said. "I think that's the danger in hate speech."
What sparked this possible clash was Lewis' view on Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. When someone from the crowd asked him if he condoned Hitler's actions, Lewis said the unimaginable.
"Who's to say that Hitler was wrong?"
He later clarified by saying that he believes Hitler is wrong only because of God's condemnation of such violence.
April 28,2006
Students React to Visiting Preacher's Controversial Message
By Michelle Garcia
A throng of students and faculty surrounded an evangelical preacher in academic quad April 25 with police standing by. Students with signs, opinions, and disbelief rallied against Miles Lewis, a Pentecostal messenger from Open Air Outreach, some going toe-to-toe with him.
"I know that there's a lot of disagreement," University Police Officer David Scott said, addressing the crowd. "On a campus setting, we have to ensure the diversity of thought. We have to remember that everyone has the United States Constitutional right to freedom of speech."
Three police officers surrounded the crowd in the quad that begin by the sundial and ended on the eastern end. Lewis and his accomplice, Jesse Morrell, came to campus at 11 a.m. that day but were removed from campus for not having a permit. They later returned before the 3 p.m. class period.
According to Morrell, Lewis is from the Syracuse area and the pair has been traveling across the country this semester to other universities presenting their message in a similar fashion. Morrell himself has been preaching open air for four years.
"Our travels have brought us here to his [Lewis'] home turf," Morrell said. "We finished at Syracuse University yesturday and we've been to Rochester University [sic]."
Jeremiah Mazon, a senior journalism major and member of Brothers and Sisters in Christ confirmed that none of the college's religiou groups were involved with Lewis' visit to campus.
A diverse array of students rallied in the quad against Morrell and Lewis who did most of the preaching, including Jewish students, homosexuals or students of color. Women's Center and Rainbow Alliance members distributed "Out and Proud" as well as "Supporters of Equality" t-shirts to the crowd. Some female students chose to kiss in front of Lewis as he continued with his beliefs, citing Bible text.
"I think attractive homosexual men should find unattractive lesbian women and get married," Lewis said.
Some of the students said that they could not believe the speaker's views and that this must have been a practical joke.
"I've got a funny hat but this is not a hoax," Lewis said.
After standing in the quad and listening to Lewis or debating with him, some students decried to the crowd to leave.
"If we all walk away he has no one to talk to," one bystander said.
"His views, I think, are ridiculous," said former Student Association President Ian Farrell. "I think he's trampling all over people's free will, but he has every right to be here. All these people there don't have to stay and listen to him."
Josh Belser, a 2005 Oswego State graduate, said he was especially offended because of his Jewish backround.
"What he's promoting is certainly not Christianity," Belser said. "He's preaching hatred and bigotry."
Belser also mentioned the risk of physical altercations with Lewis people may involve themselves with. Earlier that afternoon, Belser himself came short of inciting violence with Lewis.
"When you attempt to incite people, this could turn ugly at any second," he said. "I think that's the danger in hate speech."
What sparked this possible clash was Lewis' view on Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. When someone from the crowd asked him if he condoned Hitler's actions, Lewis said the unimaginable.
"Who's to say that Hitler was wrong?"
He later clarified by saying that he believes Hitler is wrong only because of God's condemnation of such violence.
