Organization Rock | Photo by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
Disclaimer: The Wright State Student Government Association does not have jurisdiction over the rock and encourages all students to follow the etiquette as described on the plaque near the rock.
Wright State’s beloved campus rock has recently featured political messages on it, which many students believe to be harmful.
Controversial messages
In October, Bailey Baker, a second-year student at Wright State, saw anti-abortion messages painted on the rock and decided to paint over them. Baker believed that seeing the anti-abortion message could potentially weigh on someone’s mental health, which is why she stepped in to help.
“I think the rock should be used to uplift people and make us happy as we drive by,” Baker said.
Under most circumstances, people are supposed to wait a full day before painting over anyone else’s messages on this rock; however, Bailey did not believe that this message should be up any longer.
“I asked before I painted,” Baker explained, saying she contacted Salliea Holland, the Student Government Association senator for residential students. “Hate isn’t allowed on the rock, and that’s why I didn’t have to wait 24 hours to paint over it.”
Christian campus organization response
The rock has been painted using religious messaging to communicate the political ideas that the painters wish to spread; however, it is not all Christian people who are behind these messages.
Josh Merkle is the President of Cru, a chapter of the U.S. Campus Ministry, the collegiate ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Merkle has a clear love for his religion and the community that it has provided him with.
“There’s definitely people that can be divisive or just say something that’s not really scriptural,” Merkle said. “Some people might put things on the rock that I might not agree with spiritually, but I understand and respect everyone’s right to use it.”
Merkle stated that he believes people should come to Christianity for the Lord first and then decide their stances on issues later. Because of this, Merkle tries to lead with a message of love and welcome everyone.
Merkle also thought of what Cru would write on the rock if they decided to do so in the future. He described the message as welcoming towards people at WSU.
“We would want people to experience fellowship and community with one another,” Merkle said.
First Amendment rights
Stephanie Buettner, president of SGA, shared her experience of what others have been telling her regarding the messages.
“Most people have been upset about the pro-life messaging on the rock lately, and while I agree it is upsetting, I tell people that, while they may see the message as hateful, the person painting that message probably sees it as a very loving message,” Buettner said.
Buettner said that while some may view the recent messages as hate speech, there is no legal definition of hate speech. The messaging on the rock can not be policed, therefore, unless it directly incites criminal activity or has threatening, violent or targeted themes.
Since the campus rock is a public forum of sorts, people are allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights, using it as their canvas. SGA discussed how to handle the campus rock at the Oct. 10 meeting, but there has been no update on future plans regarding the rock.
