Whose speech does VCU value?
Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.
Natalie McEwan, Opinions and Humor Editor
VCU’s comically named Campus Expression Interim Policy states that the Compass is “a pivotal crossroads” for students and staff in their reasoning to prevent protesting or chalking in this area. Despite this, VCU seems to have no problem allowing religious grifters on the Compass — screaming through megaphones that all of their students are going to hell.
I’m not talking about the Christians who politely ask if I want to go to church with them on Sunday. I’m talking about the random people shouting that we will all burn if we don’t repent.
I find myself asking why these religious grifters even come to VCU. Their rants are so filled with hate, so selective in the parts of the Bible they focus on and so hypocritical to the Christian messaging of love and forgiveness.
If their attempt is to convert students to Christianity, it is far more likely to drive students away. Personally, I’m agnostic with open and sympathetic views toward all religions. I am not against Christianity, but being screamed at when I’m just trying to go to the library or class gives me a less favorable view of the community. For students who had negative past experiences with Christianity, being yelled at in this way could be unpleasant and triggering.
This harassment should not be tolerated — especially when our voice on the Compass as students is restricted. Why are they allowed to make a scene on the Compass, allowed to come here and provoke students, when we aren’t allowed to protest?
On the first day of classes, I left Hibbs Hall and stood on the Compass with some friends. We were excited to see each other after a long winter break, catch up and enjoy the semester together.
However, we could hardly focus on our conversation — across the Compass, a middle-aged man yelled about fire and brimstone to anyone who could hear. We tried to ignore it and resume our conversation, but it felt hard to hear each other’s voices.
When the man began making comments about students who walked past with outfits he deemed provocative, my friend and I spoke up.
“It’s 11 in the morning on a Monday,” I yelled, “Go get a job and leave us alone!”
I’ll admit — it was not the most level-headed thing I could have said. But the more this man yelled at students, the angrier I got. I am not just angry at the campus grifter — though I absolutely am — but angry with VCU.
I don’t agree with VCU’s policy revisions at all. Despite VCU’s claims that they had considered the policy changes since spring 2023, I believe these revisions were pushed forward to silence student protests against the genocide in Palestine — and I believe that VCU President Michael Rao and the board is pandering to an increasingly fascist, right-wing government.
When I have to listen to a random stranger tell me I’m going to hell, who refuses to leave when students ask him to leave us alone, I get all the more enraged that our voices are being silenced on campus. When I don’t see a single VCU Police officer step in to tell a grifter to leave, I remember how violently VCU Police responded to a peaceful student protest last spring.
VCU recently sent out a feedback form regarding their policy changes on the Campus Expression and Space Utilization Policy, the Concealment of Identity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. You can send VCU your feedback until Feb. 28.
Maybe you don’t agree with my opinions on the campus preachers. That’s fine. But don’t let VCU silence our First Amendment rights while they let strangers harass us. Make your voice heard.
