I have never professed to being a Trump supporter. In fact, one of my first articles for the Odyssey was that of likening Mr. Trump to the villains and general members of Attack on Titan's Military Police, in that he is only interested in securing his own profit at the risk of decimating the rest of the country. After composing that article, I thought it possible that I could ignore his existence for a time being, not because I wish to avoid current events, but due to the fact that my mind can only handle so much of his bigotry-fueled hate speech and general idiocy at a given time. However, during my walk to class this morning, it became apparent that his message is gradually becoming inescapable in the worst fashion. Etched along the brick walls outside Smith Hall were the words, "Build the Wall," and even worse statements were scrawled along the sidewalks outside the Women's Center, among other areas of campus.

I, like many people, was hoping that April 1, 2016 would arrive and Trump would announce that the past months have all been part of an elaborate, horrendous joke played upon the United States populace. I can imagine Trump taking to the podium and spewing crap excuses like YouTubers accused of sexual harassment. "It was all a social experiment!" he would exclaim. "I'm not actually a racist, sexist pig."

Except for the fact that he is. And this cruel joke doesn't seem to be ending any time soon.

As I'm writing this article in the Marshall University Memorial Student Center, I wonder if the students surrounding me are the perpetrators. Hiding behind typical, collegiate fatigue and half-consumed cups of Starbucks coffee as they discuss their papers for economics or history. I think about the nature of this event, the fact that these kinds of human beings aren't the type to readily admit to their support of Donald Trump in the light of day. This is the kind of activity and foul thought that can only be conducted at night, when the judgment and good nature of those around them cannot prevent their angry hands from coating the campus in verbal garbage.

As a general rule, I'm proud to say that I'm from West Virginia. I know that this is an aesthetically pleasing state with plenty of kind-hearted individuals that by no means support this kind of action. However, when members of my own student body decide to publically display this kind of ignorance, I find myself questioning that pride. I wonder how the international, homosexual, or clinically depressed students (or, really, any coherent thinking students) feel when they see scathing statements about defacing campus safe places. It isn't that I believe other campuses don't deal with this type of harassment; I know every area of this country is plagued by this harmful thinking in some form or another. I guess I've just been laboring under the false pretense that maybe, just maybe, we could be better than the rest of the nation. Maybe this campus wouldn't become filled with hate and rage. Maybe students would actually feel at home at this university that, while sometimes flawed, does (usually) have good intentions.

I guess I was wrong.

I know nothing will be done about this act of hate speech, particularly due to the fact that freedom of speech exists and that, while I vehemently disagree with the statements scrawled across campus, they have the right to speak their minds. The evidence was written in chalk, as well, and the rain has (hopefully) rid the sidewalks of those statements. Honestly, the usage of chalk is a furthered example of their cowardice. "I can only state my atrocious opinion with safety that a) no one will know that it was me due to the cover of night, and b) the knowledge that the evidence will be washed away." At least, that's what I hear when things like this happen.

C'mon, Marshall. You're better than this.