Wednesday morning, Purdue students were awoken with posters plastered around campus. These weren’t regular posters advertising a benefit event or something fun happening on campus, though. These posters supported the idea of white supremacy.

While I knew that people with this ideology were probably around me, it still shocked me that it had become that prominent. To me, I see that Purdue embraces the idea of diversity and acceptance. The university takes pride in the fact that they have students applying and attending from many different countries all around the world.

Wednesday night, there was an emergency meeting to discuss the matter and what the next steps to deal with it should be. According to an email statement by President Mitch Daniels to the Journal and Courier, his opinion is to not give attention to a group that does not deserve it. However, others think otherwise. They feel like fascism is something that cannot go with absolute disregard. The Journal and Courier reported that the Purdue Graduate Student Government is urging that the posters be condemned.

At the bottom of the poster, the website reactionamerica.com, is printed in association with the group American Vanguard which is also on the poster. I visited the website and found that they believe in “making America white again.” The group believes that America’s old traditions are being destroyed and strive to win the race “war” as they state. J&C said that American Vanguard took responsibility for the posters and that they were posted by allies they have on campus.

I had the chance to talk to a couple of current students about this situation. Student Elizabeth Vecera said:

“It upsets me and surprises me that people in 2016 still think that way in regards to certain races being better than others”

Michelle Fogel voiced:

“It makes me feel sad because now I know that there are people on campus who only think a certain way and are discriminating others and are trying to create a society based on hatred. I feel like we should be a society based on unity and not based on a hate towards race, ethnicity, or culture.”

I know that I have been introduced to many different cultures since I’ve been at Purdue and I love it. It allows me to indirectly learn about the world around me, and it’s been an amazing experience. To see that people are trying to change and discourage that is very upsetting.

I think the best thing people can do right now is to reach out and make others feel comfortable, accepted, and important since the people who put the posters up will not come forward.

What is reassuring though is the amount of people who are troubled by this. It just solidifies that love is stronger than hate.