On Wednesday evening a group of students led by the members of the Network of New Enlightened Women and the College Republicans came together for a chalking event organized by Kimmy Hammond. The chalkings consisted a variety of republican and conservative messages ranging from things like "conservative women are beautiful" and "Back the Blue" all the way to the more pointed "Build the Wall: Paid for by Mexico" and needless to say, the event caused a response on the WCU campus.
I spoke with Kimmy Hammond to ask her what her hope was when organizing the event and she said that "what we were aiming for was to stir the pot on campus, and start some conversation. We felt it was time for the conservatives on campus to use their First Amendment right to free speech." She continued "Some members of Network of Enlightened Women came out writing positive conservative women thoughts. We had people who were not involved in either group who just aligned themselves as a conservative join the free speech chalking. It was a great turnout.
People spread all over campus. Someone wrote "Build the wall, Paid for by Mexico" and the student body went nuts...There was controversy with the BLM but nothing like the reaction we got from campus the next morning. People felt threatened and ashamed to be at Western Carolina because of the harmless chalk writings. " I asked her what kind of response they received, and she said "the chalkings went viral on Yik Yak, Facebook, etc.
Disgusting comments were placed about us on Yik Yak and people wrote their view on Facebook that it was disgusting what we did. College students are way too sensitive these days. We have to get past this. People believe when you walk into a college campus most of your freedom of speech is out the door. It's not true. You still have a voice. But it's not just to the minorities or the liberals. It's to all." Hammond said that in addition to the almost violet response, there were also meaningful conversations that came out of the event: "We had some very long respectful and also controversial debates. Myself and a couple others were overwhelmed by many liberal views trying to shut us out." President of the College Republicans, Benjamin Snedegar, reached out to say that he agreed with the statements by Hammond.
There were, of course, students on the other side of the debate that had opinions on the events they wished to express as well. I reached out to a few of these students and received the following responses:
"I think they should have expected the backlash they received. Some of the statements that they wrote were obviously to get a rise out of the community. The whole "build the wall" crap is something that no forward-thinking person believes in, and I'm dumbfounded at how they could have expected any other response." The student that made this comment wishes to remain anonymous.
Natalye Carter, a liberal student at WCU, shared her opinions on the matter. She explained the differences she saw with this movement and the Black Lives Matter event that took place a month ago. She said that: "I feel like it is important to mention that the black lives matter movement isn't about hate. It's about change. Pro-black doesn't mean anti-white. White people think the movement is anti-white because white power was established in the oppression of others. Pro-black and pro-white are not at all synonymous.
I feel like people endorsing Trump just goes to show how much we need to change in this country. He is rooted in racism and bigotry. He is fear mongering, which is what republicans do to get votes. His fan based is white people. And it's so sad to see that many people backing him. We need change. I really think Bernie would bring change. He's been fighting for civil and individual rights for decades. He is the right choice. I feel like the racism at our school needs to be handled differently. The consequences aren't harsh enough. I think that the Trump chalk was outlandish and was written by people at 11:30 night because they know if they had done it during the day someone would have said something."
I must admit, that upon seeing the chalkings myself, I was tempted to join the heated debates that followed. I am a liberal student myself, and I am quick to respond to conservative rhetoric. Conversely, I am also quick to throw my support at movements like Black Lives Matter that have previously expressed chalkings on campus. However, following this event, I decided it was time to discuss what debates like this mean for our campus community. It's clear that we are a campus filled with opinionated people, but where do we draw the line between healthy debates and fights that divide us all? We have to get past the finger-pointing and the who-is-right-who-is-wrong mentality. We have to show one another respect.
I think we have to remember just how amazing it is that so many of us have taken the step to become politically active. Whatever side of the aisle you fall on, we all agree on one thing: there is ample room for change in our country. The voices of the young are so desperately needed in this election, and in politics in general, but we are so often silenced and labeled:"too young" or "too naive." The only way that we can effect the change that we wish to see is by forming an opinion, and fighting for it. There are so so many people that want to keep us from engaging in political action, we cannot begin doing to one another. If you cannot find anything to respect about someone's political opinion, make yourself respect the fact that they even have one. Even the most far right republican or the most far left democrat is better than the "I just don't care about politics" guy.
Don't be that guy, and don't force others to become that guy. We have the opportunity as the younger generation to get away from the mistake that so many before us have made. We can be republican, or democrat, and still work together to change our country. We are all so blinded by hate for the side we are not on at this point, that no one is paying attention to what is important: the issues our country is facing. We are far too busy hating Hillary, or Trump or Cruz or Sanders and we have lost sight of the bigger picture here. We have forgotten what is at stake.
Furthermore, I think we need to start considering what a dangerous line we are walking with the intense comments that continue to find themselves on the social media scene. No matter what the debate, there is no excuse for the type of threats, and abuse that seem to follow any campus debate. We've seen the news stories, and we're all acutely aware of what can happen when things go too far on social media, and we should all start thinking about the type of impact that our keystrokes have. Sites like Yik Yak give us the ability to feel bold, and untraceable, which leads to disgusting and petty attacks on our peers. Ostracizing and marginalizing groups with an opinion on campus is bad for all of us, because if you are a person fighting for freedom for all, you are fighting against your own stance by tearing people down.
It's important that at the end of the day we all remember that chalking on campus is a form of expression that everyone is free to, and we have to respect every student's right to say what they feel. Now, I must say, that if you believe in your stance enough to publicize it, you have to prepare yourself for a debate. You have to own any controversy that you're willing to begin. Political discourse is good, guys! We have to take away the stigma that politics carries. We have to be willing to have a discussion, and to respectfully debate one another, because if we don't then we all remain in the dark!
Discourse is great--it's fantastic! Abuse, racism, sexism, threats, and violence are not great, they're despicable. Let's make WCU a campus that is full of opinions, and diversity, and healthy conversation--but not a place where groups fear speaking out for fear of prosecution.
A special thanks to all of the students that contributed a statement for this piece. An extra-special thanks to Kimmy Hammond for both her statements and the photos she contributed.
