Apr 26, 2012
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A Western Kentucky University art professor and her student are defending what pro-life students are calling an act of desecration and vandalism after the student draped hundreds of condoms on top of crosses displayed in a pro-life exhibit.
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The crosses were part of a university-sanctioned display by Hilltopper’s For Life. A member of the group actually captured student Elaina Smith as she and another person placed condoms on many of the 3,700 crosses. She reportedly told the pro-lifers that the desecration was part of a class art project.
Smith was asked to stop and when she refused, they called Western Kentucky’s campus police. The police refused to stop the cross desecration, telling the pro-life students that it was a First Amendment issue.
Smith’s project was reportedly for Professor Kristina Arnold’s class. Arnold told television station WBKO that she did not disprove of the idea and that she “encourages learning.”
“Learning and debating are not always pretty or polite processes,” she wrote in a statement to the television station. “Critical engagement with ideas can get messy.”
Kristen Hawkins, the executive director for Students For Life, told Fox News that she was shocked that a university professor would condone vandalism.
“I think it’s outrageous the university professor would say this,” Hawkins said. “For the university and the professor to write this off as not being a big deal – this is pretty shocking. It’s shocking they would not be willing to stand up for the rights of their students.”
Hawkins provided Fox News with a copy of an email that Smith sent defending her actions.
“I stand by my actions,” Smith wrote. “I do not believe that I impeded anyone else’s freedom of expression. I did not break any laws. I did not damage any property. I voluntarily removed the condoms even though I was not required to do so.”
Western Kentucky released a statement calling the incident “disrespectful symbolism.” The university also said the Smith apologizing – something she denied in the email and to local media.
“I do not feel that I should apologize for attempting to exercise the freedoms that we are all entitled to,” she wrote.
The Hilltoppers For Life are now represented by the Alliance Defense Fund. They’ve sent a letter to the university demanding answers and an official apology.
“It appears that several WKU officials knew this vandalism would occur, did nothing to stop it, and allowed it to continue,” wrote attorney Travis Barham. “Our clients were exercising their First Amendment rights, and it is the duty of WKU officials to protect those freedoms, not passively allow them to be violated.”
The Alliance Defense Fund sent a list of eight demands to the university. In addition to a public apology, they also want to know who purchased and supplied Smith with 3,700 condoms. They also want assurances that the student will be punished for her act of vandalism.
“At a public university, ‘critical engagement’ also involves respecting the free speech rights of fellow students, something Ms. Smith and Dr. Arnold both missed,” Barham wrote.
A university spokesman told Fox News that to their knowledge, the incident is closed.
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These crosses weren't placed in order to worship Christ. They were placed to disparage women who've had abortions. Learn the difference. I would be disgusted if someone tossed condoms, or anything else, on a cross used to mark the location of a church or a REAL grave- as in, one at a cemetery, not a faux mass grave designed to force your views on others- but that is not what happened here. This was just one demonstration countered with another. If you can't take it, don't dish it.
Moreover, I do wish people would stop using symbols of my Faith in order to propagate judgment and hatred. They already trashed these Christian symbols.
As a Christian and WKU alumni I would ask WWJD? He wouldn't call for this young lady's head and press charges against the University. The Hilltopper for Life organization (ran by men) is a hypocritical organization trying to raise a stink. I say that confidently as a WKU alumni because anyone with common sense wouldn't have put that cross display in front of the Fine Arts Center unless they wanted a response!
As a Christian and WKU alumni I would ask WWJD? He wouldn't call for this young lady's head and press charges against the University. The Hilltopper for Life organization (ran by men) is a hypocritical organization trying to raise a stink. I say that confidently as a WKU alumni because anyone with common sense wouldn't have put that cross display in front of the Fine Arts Center unless they wanted a response!
It is truly disappointing that a college media outlet did a better job reporting the full story compared to sensationalist media contorting information to fuel a political debate. Go to the following link to read the full story!
http://wkuherald.com/news/article_1b89f40e-8ff4-11e1-b2c2-001a4bcf6878.html
How offensive! What about the first ammendment rights of the Christians on campus? Do they not have the right for their cross to be on display without the threat of someone disgracing it?!
Quiani Mason , Read the story on WKU's website.It is much more informative. First amendment rights go both ways. The crosses were not damaged in anyway and the condoms were removed as soon as she took a picture of the display to show her views. It was a peaceful exchange according to the police report. This to me is just further proof you can't read what Fox News reports unless you plan on doing more research.
Neither news outlets ever mention the perpetrator's religious affiliation. For all we know, she is a christian who respects her right to decide what she does with her body therefore she is pro-contraception.
Yea, I read it too. I agree that rights go both ways, 100%. My thoughts are, why not put up her own crosses and place comdoms on those if it is truly for a project. But I also understand what you are saying about placing them in front of the Art building. Bad situation all together.
Brad, you know as well as I do that they purposely put the crosses there. In the middle of the night…The President of the organization John Sohl was just "waiting" for the people to do harm to their display. Oh, and by the way–Sohl is supposedly trying to become a journalist… Unbiased? Doubtful.
I can tell you there's no way I'd put them in front of FAC unless I WANTED them to be defaced…
You are missing the most important part of this… it is ok to desecrate the cross in the country – but not the Koran!
This is a hate crime and should be treated as such. Prosecutors should determine whether the student and professor should be indicted for committing a crime. Doesn't this university receive federal money? That would mean that taxpayers through the U.S. are directly or indirectly funding this symbol of religious hatred.