"I do have a very strong sense of what we would like to see the community do in response and I'll share that. But ultimately in the end these sorts of things are up to the community. Because in the end, fighting hate and doing community building is going to be best for the unique environment the community is in. And I think given the campus atmosphere and also the diversity in Columbia, I think it has to be a very Columbia-oriented decision."
She suggests the best way to handle protesters is to give them the least attention possible. She also encourages MU students to stay educated.You want to encourage students to independently come to a decision themselves about how they want to respond to this."
Aroesty's message resonated with the Hellel Jewish Campus Center Executive Director Kerry Hollander, who says she doesn't anticipate any problems. She says she believes many students learned how to handle protests when National Socialist Movement came to Columbia in March of 2007. Hollander says she understands WBC has a right to speak their minds."I wouldn't want my rights curtailed; I wouldn't want their rights curtailed. I don't like what they're going to say, but they have a right to say it."
LGBTQ Community Resource Center Coordinator Ryan Black agrees."I've never seen any major ruckus the last few times when groups like this have come into town so we'll make people be aware to a degree without raising any kind of frenzy or fear."
WBC plans to protest in areas near Hickman High School, Mizzou Hillel, Macklanburg Playhouse and Congregation Beth Shalom. © Copyright 2012, KBIA
