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UAPD must defend Bible Jim's rights

To the editor,

I was disgusted by Alodie Feldhousen's comments in Monday's Wildcat. Apparently Alodie is unaware that this University is a state school and is supported in part by tax dollars. This is not a private campus, and anyone is welcome to come to the mall and spread their views. That is why the corner nearest to the CBS Building is labeled "Speakers Corner."

It is disturbing to me to hear someone who has managed to make it to the junior level of their college career say that the police should remove anyone whose views may not coincide with the views of the general population. Everyone in this country has a right to free speech, and a diversity of views keeps things interesting. I would suggest to those who do not agree with Bible Jim to think about his beliefs and why they do not agree with them, and then move on. When we silence one person, we put our own civil liberties on the line. A major concern in the letter seemed to be how foreign students on the campus would view our University when the police department allowed all to say what they believe. I would hope any student on this campus would be intelligent enough to see the power that each of us has in this country to say what we believe without fear of the police silencing our voices. If you don't like what someone has to say, ask yourself what about it bothers you, and move on.

No one is forcing you to sit on the Mall and listen.

John Ryan

Philosophy and psychology junior