As a student at the University of Alabama, I expect to feel comfortable on my campus and I believe that every student should have the right to feel safe regardless of their identity. A university's campus climate is very impactful on the mental health of its students. The University of Alabama is home to about 37,000 students of different races, sexual orientations, and religions.
The recent events of chalking on campus grounds are threats to many students here. The homophobic, sexist, and racist messages written throughout the campus create a very toxic campus climate. I have new fears for my safety. I am now afraid to walk alone especially at night around campus. These messages incite violence towards specific groups of students at our school. It's a shame that on my own campus I feel that my identity is at risk.
"Build a freaking wall." "F*ck your feelings." "Feminism is cancer."
These are just some of the messages that have been written across campus. It's incredibly important to note that some of these messages have been strategically placed directly in front of halls such as Manly Hall, which is home to the department of race and gender studies. These messages are threats and attacks.
To the people who thought that spreading their hatred was okay, just remember that you're also the same people who claim that civil rights movements such as Black Lives Matter are violent and divisive, yet your messages are pro-segregation and racist. Realize that your "pro-life" messages are incredibly ironic because if that baby is born non-white, poor, and gay, you'll strip them of all their rights and hate them. You claim to be followers of Jesus, but instead of spreading his love and acceptance, you spread hate and anger towards what you do not understand.
These events on our campus make it clear that this election goes beyond a difference of political views. Human rights and morals are at stake. This should be a wake-up call to those who still have not yet voted or to those who are still undecided. Let our campus be an example of how crucial the outcome of this election will be.
