Preacher Exercises Right to Speak, Upsets Students
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Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Volume 42, July 12, 2007 - June 12, 2008 Lanthorn, 1968-2001 10-29-2007 Lanthorn, vol. 42, no. 20, October 29, 2007 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol42 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Lanthorn, vol. 42, no. 20, October 29, 2007" (2007). Volume 42, July 12, 2007 - June 12, 2008. 20. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol42/20 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Lanthorn, 1968-2001 at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Volume 42, July 12, 2007 - June 12, 2008 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Grand Valley State University www.lanthorn.com Monday, October 29, 2007 Preacher exercises right to speak, upsets students 'Preacher Man' publicly GVSU senior Adam Le called DPS on Wednesday and DPS officers came lectures about 'love' around noon, but they did not force Thursday by AuSable Hall Venyah to leave the campus. DPS officers escorted Venyah to the Event Services Office where he made a By Michelle Hamilton reservation tospeak in the free speech area GVL News editor by the Transformational Link, DeHaan said. Venyah was preaching again in less Free speech was challenged at Grand than half an hour. On Thursday, Venyah Valley State University last week when was approached by DPS at about 2 p.m. some students silently protested a speaker because another group had reserved the who they thought had crossed the line space near the Transformational Link between free speech and hate speech. and he left GVSU peacefully. On Wednesday the “Preacher Man," Many students thought Venyah carried as many students are now referring to the concept of free speech too far. Some Michael Venyah, began proclaiming a of them said the way he was singling out message of repentance and condemnation specific people should be considered a to the GVSU community. Venyah, a bias incident. founder of the religious group Soul Winners International, positioned himself underneath the Transformational Link, one of GVSU’s two free speech areas on campus for two days last week. With a worn Bible in his hand, Venyah shouted to students passing by that they GVSU has two areas designated needed to repent or they would go to hell for open forum discussion on the for homosexuality, smoking, pre-marital sex and masturbation. Allendale Campus. Speakers can The Department of Public Safety reserve the area near the Cook received several phone calls regarding Carillon Clock Tower or the blue Venyah from concerned students, said Transformational Link near the Little Captain Brandon DeHaan, assistant Mac Bridge without obtaining any director for the Department of Public Safety. However, DPS did not ask Venyah type of permit. To reserve one of these to leave GVSU’s campus because he did spaces, a speaker or group must not commit any crimes, DeHaan said. provide GVSU's Event Services Office with contact information and a copy See more: Go to the editorial GVL / Michelle Hamilton of any pamphlet being handed out to No love: GVSU students Luke Bannister and Nicki Lamson were part of the group that made signs and turned their backs in protest of religious speaker and "Your Insights ” A4 the campus community. Michael Venyah beneath the Transformational Link on Thursday. Students combated Venyah's message of condemnation with signs about acceptance. "(The protest) is not about religion, it's about love, ” Lamson said Child slavery leads lecture A two-part story on a two-day lecture By Dana Blinder GVI. Copy editor A lecture on children in the slave trade opened the 32nd Annual Great Lakes History Conference Friday night at Grand Valley State University. Wilma King from the University of Missouri addressed a crowd in lx>osemore Auditorium with her lecture. Children and the Transatlantic Slave Trade before GVL / Hollyn Johnson History conference: Professor David Kiracofe takes talks with Dr Wilma King after her keynote ISOS. address on children slave history Friday night at the 32nd annual Great Lakes History Conference. King's presentation used first person GVL / Kaitlyn Irwin narratives, letters from older children, in history, he said. his latest book, “A Slave No More. ” Sleepy students: On Wednesday students from Campus Ministry slept outside of Cook-DeWitt to journals, official records and middle pass “For too long history has been about Blight ’s focus turned to how the men’s ensure a spot for the Spring Break Mission Trip. Students Amanda Mujais and Ryan Sawyer wait for survivor narratives from more than 100 their number to be called to sign up for their trip the government, policies and the ruling stories found him by chance. Passed years ago. of elites,” he said. “But increasingly, down through generations of family and Children ages 10 to 24 were the most historians are more interested in the lives friends, the 19th century narratives finally marketable in the slave trade. They were of ordinary people, so we’re just hoping reached him. cheaper, less resistant, and could fit into Campus Ministry begins she’ll keep that movement going and “ This is an internationally recognized smaller spaces on slave ships. King said. remind everybody that history is about event,” said Jason Crouthamel, Grand GVSU student Sandra Sepulveda human beings. ” Valley State University assistant professor said the lecture showed a different side to in the History Department. “It is vital that slavery. spring break sign-up [email protected] we examine the impact of this traumatic “We think it was something that past on our present.” happened in the south to older women and For more than eight hours, academic By Michelle Hamilton Ministry destinations will work with men. and don't really think about children By Kimberly Shine scholars received the chance to address GVL News editor communities in need alongside Habitat being involved, ” Sepulveda said. and debate various historical themes with for Humanity or a local ministry The idea for King ’s lecture formed GVL Staff Writer colleagues. organization. when she was looking for other areas to Most people did not see the line of Acting as a bridge between local In spite of a frost weather advisory, study, she said. 200 students that started at the doors of The presentation continued Saturday and national scholarship, the goal of the a group of about 20 students, including “Once I got my Ph D., I was looking the as a part of the more than 100 scholars Cook-DeWitt Center and wrapped Jezierski and Pilgrim, slept outside the conference was to expand growth within for a new research topic and there were from across the nation who gave speeches around the Cook Carillon Clock Tower Cook-DeWitt Center to secure spots at the intellectual community, Crouthamel before 5 a m. Thursday — the line was people doing research on enslaved regarding this year’s Great L^ikes History the head of the sign-up line Thursday said. women, ” King said. “What I wanted to do Conference. gone before classes started. morning. The group was not permitted to Various speeches, such as one given They were all waiting to sign up for was something different” “The single financial asset in 1860 pitch tents, so they wore multiple layers by Texas A & M University scholar the Campus Ministry 2008 spring break Craig Benjamin, a GVSU history was the ownership of slaves,” said David of clothing and covered cement floor in Kristen Vogel assisted in bridging this professor helped organize the conference Blight, Yale University American History trips, many of which have limited spots front of the Cook-DeWitt Center with gap. Vogel, a Ph.D. student in Nautical this year. professor and Flint. Mich, native. “They available. More than half of the mission sleeping bags and blankets. Archeology, chose “Weighing Cargo: The locations are limited to 15 or fewer This year's theme was decided on were more valuable than the manufacturers GVSU senior Lindsey Miller armed Boyce Decision and the Responsibility because it is the 200 year anniversary and the railroads together. ” students. herself with pajama pants, shorts, long of Common Carriers Towards Slave The line began at about 9:30 p.m. of the slave trade. King was chosen as Blight, the director of Yale University’s underwear and two pairs of jeans. Miller Cargoes, ” as her topic of choice. a speaker for her expertise in the field, Gilder Ijehrman Center for the Study Wednesday with GVSU sophomores brought more layers of clothing to put on Though the conference is directed more Benjamin said. of Slavery, was the keynote speaker for Sarah Pilgrim and Heather Jezierski. The if the weather got colder, she said. toward professors and graduate students, “We asked colleges who were the Saturday portion of the two-day sign-up process is on a first-come, first- “We’ll tough it out. ” said GVSU it included at least one undergraduate specialists on the subject and she was conference held at the Hberhard Center in serve basis, and Pilgrim and Jezierski senior Mindy Nienhouse. “It’s all for student panel, GVSU history professor recommended to us by a number of Grand Rapids. wanted to make sure they got the trips Jesus.” Doug Montagna said. faculty at Grand Valley, both in the history “It's representative of a larger picture,” they wanted. Jezierski said. The doors to the Cook-DeWitt were Representing the Phi Alpha Theta “It was incredible last year.” she said. department. African American studies and Blight said.