At 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, several students staged a sit-in on Fountain Mall to draw awareness to hurtful rhetoric in our community and across the country. That evening, the Lariat ran a story about myself and those standing around me that was too easy.
The intention of the sit-in participants was not to protest President-elect Donald Trump. The sit-in asked the Lariat to address an issue that is complex and difficult. The issue is not anger or politics, but one of hurtful rhetoric and reflection.
The column and broadcast interpreted the sit in as an “Anti-Trump Protest.” In the report, the issues we were bringing to the table were simple.
The article finds two distinct sides. For me, the lines were muddled. There were both Trump and Hillary supporters participating in the sit-in.
Even though the response of other Trump supporters was to grab signs, distribute stickers and defend their beliefs, the intentions of those who organized the sit-in was not to engage in a political debate. Instead, we wanted to show solidarity for those on campus who felt marginalized and unheard.
Our moment of unity was about choosing hope and showing students on campus who have been marginalized by today’s rhetoric that there is love on Baylor’s campus.
It is hard to write a story that asks you to look critically at yourself and those around you. However, our actions Thursday asked the Baylor community to be self-critical, as this is a defining factor of all social change.
Hannah Bogue, Palm Springs junior
