By Avery Boulware, Campus Carrier News Editor
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| Andrea Hill | CAMPUS CARRIER |
| Chalking that reads “You must be the change” was photographed on main campus on Tuesday. |
The sidewalk in front of McAllister Hall has seen a bit more traffic than usual in the past week. After pro-Trump chalkings appeared in front of the building on Oct. 31, students have reacted in vastly different ways on a number of platforms.
Social media has been ablaze with students and alumni alike condemning the writings as hate speech and calling Berry administration to action.
Senior Alyssa Bishop wrote on Facebook on Thursday about her concerns after the chalking.
“As a student leader who is also a Hispanic woman on our campus, I am beyond disappointed at the lack of compassion, consideration and action that our administration has shown to the students who are offended by this hate crime,” Bishop wrote.
Alumni have also voiced their concern. Sarah Countryman (’10) posted her condemnation of Berry administration on Facebook.
“POC’s and LGBT+ folks at Berry have endured discrimination, hate speech and disrespect and Berry is, again, attempting to silence minority voices,” Countryman wrote. “I am angered because this is not the first time. When an organization fueled by hatred of others is allowed to run amok unchecked, but the minorities who feel hurt and threatened speak out, they are shut down and told nothing will change.”
The initial pro-Trump messages in front of McAllister Hall have been written over many times in the past week with encouraging drawings and quotes.
In addition, student groups have covered the rest of campus with messages of positivity.
Juniors Anna Walker and Ellen Summerlin of Campus Cursive, a positivity movement for college campuses started by the More Love Letters organization, were inspired to do something after a friend asked if they had participated in the positive chalkings. Walker and Summerlin covered a tree outside of McAllister Hall with colorful, encouraging notes.
“A lot of them had to do with spreading peace,” Walker said. “The chalk caused a lot of disruption, so people were feeling uneasy about that. We just wanted to put a message out there that kindness is louder and peace can overcome all those negative messages.”
Summerlin said kindness can go a long way. “It’s something you’ll never regret,” she said.
In addition to both negative and positive reactions to the chalking, a neutral approach surfaced over the weekend. Next to messages of love and acceptance, some students have written quotes from The Office, scientific facts and silly words.
Students have responded in unique and varied ways to the political chalkings. And, unless the drought ends and the chalk washes away, these reactions are going to stay.