Preacher Phenomenon

When I began my career at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) last year, I was as stunned to meet the infamous “Megaphone Man” as I was to see him suddenly disappear towards the end of the academic year. 

It never crossed my mind, however, that if you cut off one Megaphone Man’s head, two more would grow back in its place. And honestly, it it is embarrassing for CMU to have its very own menace running rampant.

In the very first week of school this Fall 2021, a newcoming preacher dawning a blue shirt as his daily uniform began preaching out front of Escalante. 

Though lacking the signature megaphone and highly provocative message, the daily disturbances persisted and allegedly escalated to security’s arrival.

Up into the fourth week, the sole clergyman fought his battle until backup arrived. 

A new Megaphone Man, dressed business casual, with his blaring voice replacing the need for an actual megaphone took a different angle. It was no surprise when the student body began to mob around the preacher and speak its mind.

During the course of three hours, over a hundred students gathered around the third rendition and began arguing with the visitor as well as amongst themselves. While some students roared at the preacher to leave, others defended his right to free speech.

The arguments raged on, leading to rising tensions and eventually police presence. While the preacher was not arrested or forced to leave campus, the crowd dispersed soon after; yet, the tensions created amongst the student body will not fade away anytime soon.

The day after, CMU President John Marshall sent out an email to the student body explaining their decision to allow the preacher to freely walk and instigate on the campus as a consequence of his right to free speech.

Given that CMU is a public college, Marshall explains, the constitutional rights of the United States hold a special priority. This is why the President advocates for “more and better speech” on the students’ behalf.

While I am also a fierce advocate for free speech, all free speech protected under the constitution must be responsible; yet, the loathing and division inspired by the Megaphone Mens’ speech is anything but American. 

Placing the responsibility of handling this menace into the hands of the student body may be played off as a learning opportunity, but I would argue it’s best for the student’s interest that these lessons stay inside the classroom.

Rather than inspiring greater speech than the student body has already exhibited in their protests to no avail, the continuation of these hateful presences will only divide the student body, allow space for hateful speech, and provide opportunity for a dangerous escalation.

Moreover, as a respectable college institution, students should expect to grow through intelligent and academic discourse with their peers who had to work equally as hard to reach this level. 

Giving any stranger from Grand Junction who walks onto campus an equal say as the hardworking and paying student body is frankly insulting to both the university and students.

In the same respect, it is ridiculous to subject the CMU community to misinformed bigotry in the name of free speech. Campus is wonderfully designed to be a safe space for students physically and mentally, yet the allowance of such aggressive behavior undoes all previous efforts to make students feel safe. 

The solution is plain and simple. These instigators must be kicked off of campus, and arrested for disturbing the peace or tresspassing if they do not comply.

Given the multiple occasions in which security has been needed, and many demands from students that the demeaning pseudo-preists be kicked off, continuing to protect such vexing language while putting the responsibility on the students makes CMU look just like the self-proclaimed preachers.

A joke.