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PITTSBURG —
Of the many things Matt Bourgault accomplished on Wednesday, including bringing hundreds of Pittsburg State students together in a common cause, one of his major achievements may have been starting a discussion about our nation's First Amendment to the Constitution.
It was because of Americans' right to free speech, Bourgault, a traveling preacher with Consuming Fire Campus Ministry, was able to stand on campus property and publicly criticize non-Christians, homosexuals and anyone who did not practice the same religious faith as he.
And although many of the students loudly protested Bourgault's message, police were on hand not to break up the exhibition, but to ensure it continued peacefully.
"We have an external speaker policy that allows people to come from off campus and speak," said Mike McCracken, director of PSU's university police department. "We're here just protecting his right to speak."
But some of the students who listened to Bourgault's speech weren't convinced his type of language should be protected.
"I think he's totally wrong and it's not fair to campus Christians, it's not fair to anyone who believes in God, to have to listen to his crap," said Shawna Catt, freshman. "I do think freedom of speech should be allowed, but to a certain extent."
Ashley Taylor, PSU senior, said freedom of speech is vital to Americans' way of life, but added she thought Bourgault was taking it too far.
"I still completely believe in the First Amendment, but I just think there are social boundaries that he's crossing," Taylor said. "It's just really frustrating because we can't control what he is doing or saying."
Natalie Mari, a student member of Hispanics of Today, an organization that was holding a fundraiser on The Oval before and during Bourgault's display, said that because the First Amendment allows freedom of speech it also allows speakers like Bourgault to "make a fool of himself."
"I think he's being ridiculous," Mari said. "He's making the biggest hypocrite of himself because he's saying one thing and doing the other."
Charlie Cailes, a devout Christian and a sophomore at PSU, said he didn't object to Bourgault's right to speak publicly, his issue was with his message and how he expressed it.
"I heard him say that they have to repent and therefore he is stating forgiveness," Cailes said. "But it's in a manner to which no one is listening and it's just getting blown aside."
Of the many things Matt Bourgault accomplished on Wednesday, including bringing hundreds of Pittsburg State students together in a common cause, one of his major achievements may have been starting a discussion about our nation's First Amendment to the Constitution.
It was because of Americans' right to free speech, Bourgault, a traveling preacher with Consuming Fire Campus Ministry, was able to stand on campus property and publicly criticize non-Christians, homosexuals and anyone who did not practice the same religious faith as he.
And although many of the students loudly protested Bourgault's message, police were on hand not to break up the exhibition, but to ensure it continued peacefully.
"We have an external speaker policy that allows people to come from off campus and speak," said Mike McCracken, director of PSU's university police department. "We're here just protecting his right to speak."
But some of the students who listened to Bourgault's speech weren't convinced his type of language should be protected.
"I think he's totally wrong and it's not fair to campus Christians, it's not fair to anyone who believes in God, to have to listen to his crap," said Shawna Catt, freshman. "I do think freedom of speech should be allowed, but to a certain extent."
Ashley Taylor, PSU senior, said freedom of speech is vital to Americans' way of life, but added she thought Bourgault was taking it too far.
"I still completely believe in the First Amendment, but I just think there are social boundaries that he's crossing," Taylor said. "It's just really frustrating because we can't control what he is doing or saying."
Natalie Mari, a student member of Hispanics of Today, an organization that was holding a fundraiser on The Oval before and during Bourgault's display, said that because the First Amendment allows freedom of speech it also allows speakers like Bourgault to "make a fool of himself."
"I think he's being ridiculous," Mari said. "He's making the biggest hypocrite of himself because he's saying one thing and doing the other."
Charlie Cailes, a devout Christian and a sophomore at PSU, said he didn't object to Bourgault's right to speak publicly, his issue was with his message and how he expressed it.
"I heard him say that they have to repent and therefore he is stating forgiveness," Cailes said. "But it's in a manner to which no one is listening and it's just getting blown aside."
